>o6 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



of pure satisfaction at the desirable change; whilst 

 during our annual summer drought, they croak much 

 at mid-day ; and this, I have thought was a cry of 

 impatience, uttered in anticipation of the refreshing 

 bath of dew that only comes with night-fall. When 

 we do have a fairly wet season, these tree-toads are 

 less full of croak than during a dry one ; and never 

 have I been able to detect the slightest connection 

 between the cries of the apple-tree toads in the lane, 

 and either a passing shower or a coming storm. 



It may be asked of the tree-toad, as of many of 

 our other fauna, are they as abundant as formerly ? 

 In answer to this question, Captain Jonathan Carver, 

 in the concluding chapter of his "Travels in North 

 America" (1667-69) says, "These creatures ... in- 

 fest the woods in such numbers, that their respon- 

 sive notes at these times make the air resound." 

 The rest of the notice is a mixture of truth and 

 absurdity and is omitted, but the portion quoted 

 would indicate that either tree-toads were formerly 

 more abundant than at present, or that the author 

 has confounded the animal with some one of the 

 tree-frogs ; possibly the wood-frog, which is a noisy 

 fellow, and one that croaks more like the tree-toad 

 than do any of the aquatic species. The great 

 difference between them, however, can readily be 

 seen by comparing the illustrations of the two 

 animals given on pages 204, 205. 



The tree-toads, or Hylce, while always at home 

 during the day, are as active as a hop-toad during 

 the night, and wander about the home-tree in search 

 of food. Unless disturbed, however, they do not, I 

 think, go far away, certainly not so far that they 

 cannot find their way back. I have long thought 

 that they made one tree their home, and I know, 

 from observations extending over several summers, 

 that the same tree-toad will spend the day, the 

 summer through, in the one spot on the tree 

 from April and October, without a miss, except 

 when making the journey to the nearest water to 

 lay eggs. I have known a tree-toad, day after 

 day, to stick to one and the same spot, wherever it 

 might travel through the night. Of course such 

 regularity of habit must be coincident with an 

 abundant food supply. Let this once become 

 uncertain, and, like sensible toads, they would 

 quickly change their quarters ; but any change of 

 locality is from necessity, not choice. 



I have never been able to find out whether this 

 batrachian had any enemies. The snakes that climb 

 trees do doubtless sometimes make a dinner upon 

 them ; but these snakes are few, and hence the 

 inference that they have less to fear than either the 

 frogs or the toads, though they are by no means so 

 numerous. 



A word further, in conclusion, with reference to 

 the wood-frog, already mentioned. In the retired 

 portions of our upland woods, far away from the 

 muddy ponds and stagnant puddles, and close to the 



leafy haunts of squirrels and chipmunks, if it be even 

 a little damp, we may chance upon a pretty frog 

 which in colour, habits and disposition is unlike all 

 the others. It is literally, quick as a flash, and for 

 some reason has a great dread of mankind ; at least, 

 it takes wonderful leaps and plenty of them, when- 

 ever any one happens to come too near. I know of 

 no harder task than to chase a wood-frog over uneven 

 ground. 



Except in April, when they congregate at some 

 neighbouring pond and lay their eggs, these frogs 

 frequent the woods the year through ; feeding on 

 flies and such small fry, until frost comes, when they 

 burrow some two feet deep in damp earth, and there 

 they remain until the weather has become fairly 

 spring-like. 



By many people, even now, these wood-frogs are 

 confounded with the tree-toads. Why two creatures 

 so unlike should be mistaken for one another passeth 

 comprehension, yet in spite of all the zoological 

 literature, and thousands of school teachers, such is 

 the fact. Worse than this, I know of a lad with a 

 correct knowledge of our batrachians, who dared to 

 correct his teacher on this matter, while on a Saturday 

 fishing frolic, and who was, in turn, " corrected " by 

 the teacher on the following Monday. 



Prospect Hill, Trenton, N.J., U.S.A. 



SEA-SIDE HOLIDAYS. 

 No. I.— The Mollusca of Margate and the 



VICINITY. 



THE following is a list of the mollusca that I 

 have met with in the neighbourhood of Mar- 

 gate. I have taken as my limits Sandwich on the 

 one side and the Reculvers on the other. Near 

 Sandwich there is a beach called Shellness, composed 

 almost entirely of shells, and on this beach I have 

 come across many rarities, including a few that I 

 have found nowhere else round this coast. The 

 nomenclature throughout is that of Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys. 



CONCHIFERA. 



Anomia ephippium ; small specimens only on the 

 roots of Laminaria, all round the coast from Margate 

 to Pegwell Bay. Pccten pusio ; single valves, pretty 

 common at Margate and Shellness, but perfect shells 

 are rare. P. varius ; common everywhere. P. oper- 

 cularis ; small specimens every now and then. 

 Mytilus edulis ; everywhere in clusters where there 

 are rocks or wooden piles to cling to. Mytilus bar- 

 batus ; occasionally all round the coast. M. Adria- 

 ticus ; now and then at Shellness. \MoJiolaria discors ; 

 Margate, but very seldom. Nucula nucleus ; small 

 specimens at Margate, but fine and fresh at Shellness. 

 At Shellness also I have met with the var. ra'diata. 

 Leda caudata, var. brmirostris ; one specimen at 



