57 



are marked with broad bars of brown. The groin and the front and 

 back of the thighs are bright yellow, over which is a network of brown 

 lines. The gular sac of the males is often brown. 



The length of a large specimen, head and body, is sometimes two 

 inches. 



This species occurs from Maine to Minnesota, and south to the Gulf and 

 Texas. It is not necessary to specify localities in our own State. 



Prof. Cope has recorded a variety of this species from Mt. Carmel, 111., 

 under the name of pJueocrypta. " The color is a dark brown, with three 

 rows of large approximated darker brown spots." Thighs yellowish brown, 

 with little darker brown. 



Habits. — This species is by far our commonest representative of the 

 Mylidce. Although not often seen, it is heard by all, especially during the 

 ■early spring. The time of appearance in the spring varies with the lati- 

 tude and the weather. About Indianapolis I have heard them as early 

 as the middle of April, and they may come from their winter quarters 

 even earlier. Their breeding habits have been described by Mary H. 

 Hinckley, as they are displayed in Massachusetts (4-5, xxi, 104 and 309 ; 

 22, xvi, 636). The adults emerge from their places of concealment from 

 May 1 to 10. The eggs begin to be deposited immediately, and this pro- 

 ceeds until July 4. The eggs are attached singly or in small groups to 

 the grasses growing in the water near the shores. These eggs have ex- 

 tremely little gelatinous matter around them. The development of the 

 tadpoles goes on with great rapidity, being accomplished within forty- 

 eight hours. When hatched, the tadpoles are a quarter of an inch long, 

 and of a pale yellow color, dotted on the head and sides with olive. Later 

 the olive hue prevails, and there are markings of gold. The external 

 gills appear and are resorbed during the first week. The "holders" 

 disappear within the first ten days. The tadpoles do not huddle together. 

 The hind legs appear at the age of three weeks. At that time the belly 

 is iridescent, the back metallic, and the tail may be of a bright red. 

 Soon, however, rhe color changes to a greenish, and by the time the met- 

 amorphosis has been completed, the color is a bright green. The arms 

 appear during the eighth week. At this time they eat little food. They 

 abandon the water from the 19th to the 24th of July, and their size is 

 small. They betake themselves immediately to shrubbery and ascend it. 

 They were seen to catch small spiders and to eat plant-lice. Some that 

 were kept in a fernery gave evidence that they are nocturnal. Their 

 green color is retained for about three months, when the frogs become 

 gray. The black markings are not developed until after the young have 

 forsaken the water. 



The Tree-frog has a loud voice and may be heard during damp 

 weather. It passes its time on trees, fences, and among vines, and it 

 has the i)ower of adaj^ting its colors to the objects among which it lives. 



