132 ■ HYLODES GRYLLUS. 



The nostrils are lateral, and nearly midway between the orbits and the snout. 

 The eyes are large and prominent, the pupil black, the upper half of the iris 

 brightest golden, the lower black. The upper jaw is dusky, with a yellowish- 

 white line from the posterior and inferior border of the orbit to the axilla. The 

 chin and throat are yellowish-white. 



The body is much elongated, slender, and dusky above, with a vertebral line of 



bright green, or sometimes reddish-brown, which bifurcates at the occiput and 



runs to the superior part of the orbits of the eyes. On each side of this vertebral 



line are two or three large oblong spots, with white margins. The flanks arc 



'grey; the thorax and abdomen are silver- white. 



The anterior extremities are small and delicate, dusky above, with a black 

 blotch near the elbow; beneath they are clouded wliitc; there are four fingers, 

 distinct, very dehcate, and slightly developed at the extremities. The posterior 

 extremities are very long, dusky above, and barred Avith black; the lower surface 

 is dirty flesh-colour; there are five toes, long, and fully webbed, with their 

 extremities still more rounded and developed. 



Dimensions. Length, 1 inch 6 lines; of thigh, 7 lines; of leg, 8 lines; of tarsus 

 and toes, 1 inch 1 line. 



Habits. This is a merry little frog, constantly chirping like a cricket, even in 

 confinement; it frequents the borders of stagnant pools, and is often found on the 

 leaves of aquatic plants, and rarely on the branches of such low shrubs as 

 overhang or dip in the water. It feeds on various kinds of insects, and makes 

 immense leaps to secure its prey, or to escape its pursuers. It can easily be 

 domesticated, and takes its food readily from the hand; I have kept several for 

 months in a glass globe on a few sprigs of purslain, (portulacca oleracea,) 

 feeding them occasionally with flies. Their chirp, at times, was incessant, and 

 sprinkling them with water never failed to render them more lively and noisy. 



