194 ANURA 



CHAP. 



Since many pairs congregate in the same pool, and each 

 produces up to one thousand eggs, most of which are hatched, 

 the neighbouring meadows sometimes literally swarm with tiny 

 tree-frogs. Nevertheless the adults are comparatively rare and 

 are very local. 



R. carolinensis s. lateralis of the South-Eastern States of 

 Xorth America greatly resembles H. arhorea in general appear- 

 ance, size, and habits. But the head is more pointed, and the 

 vivid green of the upper parts is separated from the yellowish 

 white under surface by a conspicuous, pure white line, giving the 

 little creature a very smart and neat appearance. According to 

 Holbrook, it ascends trees, but most commonly lies upon Ijroad- 

 leaved water-plants, like Kymjjhaca, and in tields of Indian corn. 

 Motionless during the daytime, they emerge in the morning and 

 evening from their hiding-places, and become very brisk and 

 noisy, often repeating their single note, which is not unlike that 

 of a small bell. When one begins, hundreds take it up from all 

 parts of the corn-field. 



Among other tree-frogs of the South-Eastern States may be 

 mentioned H. squirella, 1^ inch in length, which is very change- 

 able in colour, generally olive above with darker spots and bars on 

 the limbs, and with a white upper lip. It lives in trees, sheltering 

 in the bark. H. femoralis of the same size, without the white 

 lip, lives high up in the trees of the dense forests of Georgia and 

 Carolina. 



H. versicolor is one of the most delicately coloured species of 

 Eastern North America, extending northwards into Canada. It 

 is about 2 inches long. Its colour passes within a short time 

 from dark l»rown or olive grey to pale delicate grey, almost 

 white, occasionally retaining a few large darker patches on the 

 back, and delicate cross-bars on the limbs. A small portion of 

 the sides and the posterior part of the belly are bright yellow. 

 The skin is granular, owing to the presence of small warts which 

 produce an acrid secretion. It is said to be found in trees, or 

 about old stone fences overgrown witli lichens, the colour of 

 which it resembles to perfection. It becomes very noisy towards 

 the evening, in cloudy weather or before rain, the voice consisting 

 of a liquid note, terminating abruptly, like " 1-1-1-1-luk." My 

 own captives fully bear out this statement of HolT^rook's. Settled 

 motionless during the day upon a piece of bark in a sliady 



