Hylidae 



V-shaped in the midHne of the throat to the chin; it is against 

 this white that the hands are snugly folded. The inner margin 

 of the tarsus and the inner toes, the inner finger and a part of 

 the second are white; even the webs that fold between the toes 

 lack the green. It is interesting to watch Hyla evittata take the 

 resting position, hugging the arms and legs close to the sides, 

 tucking the hands and feet well under, and resting the head on 

 the hands until no trace of light colour is visible. 



This tree frog is an alert and active one. It shows an inter- 

 esting protective instinct, reminding one of the meadow grass- 

 hopper (Orchelimum). When it is on a branch, if an enemy 

 approaches, it swings round to the back of the branch. Here it 

 will continue for some time to remain invisible by moving around 

 the limb, to the right when the enemy moves to the left, to the 

 left when the movement of the enemy is to the right, and so on. 

 When it is finally grasped, it may open the mouth and give a 

 high-pitched cry. 



The power for colour change is pronounced, as it is in all 

 members of the Hylidae. In bright light, as when hunting for 

 insects among the pond-lilies and pickerel-weed of its haunt, it 

 is brilliant yellow-green. On darker days and in captivity it tends 

 to a dress of myrtle-green. It is like Hyla cinerea, in that in 

 hibernation it may take on its lightest shades. 



"Very little is known about the habits of Hyla evitiaia. In 

 June and July the animals are to be found in the rank vegetation 

 of the tide marshes. Here they remain quiet during the day, 

 but as evening approaches they become active and noisy. Their 

 food at the time consists chiefly of a small beetle that is found on 

 the leaves of the pond-lilies. The note is like that of Hyla pick- 

 eringii in form, but in quality it is comparatively harsh and 

 reedy, with a suggestion of distant guinea-fowl chatter, and 

 scarcely a trace of the peculiar freshness so characteristic of the 

 f song of the smaller species. The song period continues through 



June and July. Later in the season the frogs leave the low 

 i\^ vhc 'h^<^^ ^ marsh vegetation. As they are then perfectly silent, they are 

 difficult to find, though occasionally one may be seen in a bush 

 or small tree, but never far from water. 



It is thought that the eggs are laid during June and July. 

 They are small, loose masses, attached to the stems of pond-lily 



leaves. 



130 



