Hylidae 



leaves,the patches of russet fern, and the clusters of jack-in-the- 

 pulpit's red berries on the ground. All remind us of the approach 

 of winter. We know that to-morrow, if not to-day, the cold wind 

 will blow and the snow will fall. But to-day the sun is bright on 

 the witch-hazel's yellow flowers, and there is good courage in the 

 shrill piping voice of this little Hyla. 



Pickering's Hyla sleeps during December and January, 

 nestled under moss and leaves, but wakes in icy February to 

 herald the spring with the same shrill piping voice of good cheer 

 that we heard in the November woods. 



THE SOUTHERN TREE FROG 

 Hyla squirella Bosc 



Identification Characteristics 

 Colour: Green or brown ; bright or dull, of light or dark shade. 

 There is a dark patch from the eye to the shoulder, including the 

 ear; a dark line from the nostril to the eye; a light line along the 

 jaw from under the eye to the shoulder. This light line may be 

 continued along the sides half-way or all of the way to the posterior 

 part of the body, and may be margined below by dusky colour. 

 There may be a V-shaped dark mark between the eyes and round 

 or elongated spots on the back. There may be much orange- 

 yellow on the throat, under the arm at the place of its insertion, on 

 the two inner fingers, and posteriorly on the concealed parts of the 

 body, femur, tibia, and tarsus (parts concealed when frog is in 

 resting position). Eye bright orange-yellow or bronze. Ear 

 brown, metallic. Legs irregularly barred or not. The concealed 

 leg surfaces are not spotted nor vermiculated. (Distinctions from 

 Hyla jemoralis and Hyla versicolor.) (See Colour Plate X.) 



Measurements: Size small, i.e. length i inch to i§ inches. 

 Length of head contained three and a half times in total length. 

 Length of leg to heel equals length of frog forward to end of muz- 

 zle. Tibia and femur of equal lengths. The knee touches the 

 elbow when the arm and leg are pressed against the body. 



Structure: Skin smooth and fine in texture. Head somewhat 

 acute, rounded in front. Canthus rostralis prominent. Nostril 

 nearer to end of muzzle than to the eye. Ear two -thirds size of 

 eye. Eyes widely separated. A fold of skin across breast. 



148 



