Reptiles and Amphibians of Illinois. 347 



of fingers very small; discs large, that of the first digit smallest. 

 Hind legs long and slender. Webs of toes extending to the 

 base of the distal phalanx in all but the fourth toe, where they 

 reach the base of the penultimate phalanx; discs not as large 

 as those of the fingers. 



Color above from bright pea-green through various shades 

 of gray to almost black, vs^ith specks of orange on the back, and 

 a wide buff or silvery stripe beginning at the tip of the snout 

 and extending along the upper jaw, under the tympanum and 

 along the side, to the posterior end of the body, or terminating 

 on the side of the abdomen. Iris golden, pupil elongate in 

 life. Color beneath yellowish or flesh-color, unspotted; throat 

 at the angle of the mouth greenish. Leg^ green or gray above, 

 pale beneath; discs and webs pale. A pale stripe extends along 

 the posterior face and upon the base of the fourth finger of the 

 anterior leg. A similar pale stripe extends along the posterior 

 face of the tarsus and is continued upon the fifth toe of the 

 posterior leg. 



Length of body, 2.06; from tip of snout to axilla, .75; 

 femur, 1; tibia, 1.00; tarsus and fourth toe together, 1.44. 

 The foregoing measurements are taken from a single Illinois 

 example, and are above the average for the species. Typical 

 examples of the species are said to average less than 1.5 inches 

 in length. 



Southern Illinois. Abundant about lakes. 



An example of this species from Bluff Lake, Union county, 

 conforms more closely with Hallowell's variety semifasciata 

 than with type forms of the species. It differs from the latter 

 in its greater size and in that the lateral pale stripe terminates 

 on the middle of the side. This stripe was, in life, bordered 

 below on the snout, and both below and above on the side, with 

 dusky. The pale stripe on the posterior face of the anterior 

 leg was also bordered below by a dusky line. 



This is the most beautiful tree-frog of our fauna. It lives 

 on the leaves of plants, frequenting especially lily pads and 

 other aquatic vegetation at the edges of lakes. It occurs also, 

 at times, in fields of corn. Its food consists of insects, the 

 common fly being, it is said, preferred. Its note resembles the 

 tone of a cow bell heard at a distance. Where abundant 



