20 



genera as Uperoleia and Pseudopliryne give the preference to 

 moist or damp places, and are never seen in the day time ; 

 they hide under stones or logs of wood, and never climb, nor 

 do they swim about in swamps or pools. 



Of the Ophistoglossa Plattdactyla very few take freely 

 to the water, though some, as Hyla aurea, appear to live in it 

 exclusively. Most of ^Jie frogs of this group frequent shrubs 

 or trees, and all have the power to change their color. 



Hijperolins hicoJor I have observed asleep upon orange trees 

 and other shrubs during the day, and taken several specimens 

 by the light of a lanthorn in swampy places. At first sight 

 they look exactly like the young of Ilyla aurea, but the 

 the absence of vomerine teeth, and the delicate light green 

 color upen the back, and pale orange between the legs, soon 

 determines its true character. It is a remarkable fact that 

 this frog has as yet been found in a few localities only,_ all 

 wide apart from each other. The first specimen was received 

 fi'om Port Denison, and several others from Port Cui'tis and 

 Brisbane. I am confident that it does not exist in the 

 immediate neighborhood of Sydney, but some 50 or 60 miles 

 from this city, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, several 

 specimens were taken by me. 



All the frogs belonging to the genus Litoria are found in 

 swampy places in particular localities covered with long grass 

 or reeds ; they make most extraordinnry leaps, as much as 

 six feet high, and may be often met with in broad daylight. 

 The genus Hyla proper, if we except Hyla aurea, is always 

 found on shrubs or trees, some hiding under bark during 

 the day, as Hyla Ewingii, Peronii, Adelaidensis, and Krefftii; 

 Hyla citrojms inhabits the tops of high trees, and is, therefore, 

 seldom captured during the summer, whilst during the cold 

 season it retires under stones in creek beds. Hyla phyllochroa 

 frequents fern groves, and Pelodryas cceruleus is quite a 

 domestic creature, taking up its cj^uarters under the roof of 

 dwelling-places, in water- spouts, post-holes, &c., and it has 

 proved itself a surer prophet than Mr. Saxby — the deep croak 

 of the male being a certain sign that rain will not long be 

 wanting. This frog has the widest range of all ; it is found 

 from South Australia to the east coast, and from Melbourne 

 to Port Essington and New Guinea. 



