314 J. S. BUDGETT. 



The " Wollunnk ukkj" as it is called by the Lengua 

 Indians, from the call of both male and female at pairing time, 

 is extremely slow in its movements, and is active only at night. 

 At this time, if it is seen by the aid of lantern as it slowly 

 climbs over the low bushes and grass, it is very conspicu- 

 ous, as shown in the figure. In the daytime, however, 

 nothing is seen but the upper surfaces of the body as it 

 lies on the green leaf or caraguata plant, and here it is most 

 inconspicuous. 



This small Hylid has a remarkable power of changing the 

 colour of its skin to harmonise with its surroundings, and can 

 effect a change from brightest green to a light chocolate in a 

 few minutes. The skin is also directly sensitive to light; for 

 if the frog is exposed to the sun while in a tuft of grass in 

 such a way that shadows of blades of grass fall across it, on 

 removal it will be found that dark shadows of the grasses 

 remain on the skin, while the general colour has been raised 

 to a lighter shade. Its food consists largely of young locusts. 

 The ovaries on each side are divided into five distinct clusters. 

 The rectum has a large saccular diverticulum, which is very 

 heavily pigmented. 



In the breeding season — December to February — this beau- 

 tiful grass frog collects in considerable numbers in the neigh- 

 bourhood of pools. During the night-time they call inces- 

 santly to one another, and produce a sound as of a dozen men 

 breaking stones, well imitated by the native name " Wol- 

 lunnkukk." 



As regards the native names for frogs, most species had their 

 separate names ; for instance, two species so closely like one 

 another as Lep todactylus ocellatus and L. bufonius 

 had their names respectively " Nukkmikkting" and " Ukselia- 

 pertic," but with the Tree frogs it was not so. I could get no 

 name for any frog Avith dilated discs but " Wollunnkukk," 

 whether they had a call resembling this name or not, and 

 whatever their form, colour, and size. I may mention also 

 that they had no general name for frog, though they had a 

 general name for bird and fish. 



