PARADISE KEY SAFFORD. 413 



food and game fish. According to Dr. Hugh M. Smith, who figures 

 it in the work above cited — 



It inhabits more sluggish and warmer waters than the other species, and 

 thrives under more extreme conditions of environment and temperature. 

 * * * It reaches its maximum weight in Florida, where examples weigh- 

 ing as much as 20 to 25 pounds have been taken in lakes. 



After describing its nesting habits and the solicitous care of the 

 newly hatched young by the parents, Doctor Smith continues : 



The food of the young fish consists of minute animals — Crustacea, insects, 

 etc. At a very early period, however, they begin to prey on their smaller 

 brothers, and this cannibalism continues after they become adults. The larger 

 fish are very voracious and aggressive feeders, taking all kinds of fish as well 

 as small mammals, frogs, tadpoles, snakes, worms, insects, and also vegetable 

 matter. 1 



FROGS AND TOADS. 



In the forest of Paradise Key two little tree frogs abound ; and the 

 neighboring sloughs and marshes are inhabited by a beautiful, 

 spotted leopard frog and a green bullfrog. 



TREE FROGS. 



While sitting on the screened veranda of the park lodge, besieged 

 by clouds of mosquitoes, the attention of the writer was attracted 

 by a number of diminutive tree frogs, some of 

 them green, others brownish, on the outside of 

 the copper-wire gauze. One of the smallest, 

 whose body was scarcely bigger than a dime, 

 made a sudden spring and caught a mosquito. 

 Against the bright sky his little body was al- 



C3, '■'" •' Fig. 27. Tree frog 



most diaphanous and a dark speck could be Hyu squireua, which 

 seen in his stomach ; it was the mosquito he had wages incessant war- 



. ' ,, -, A j,. ., /» 1 j 1 FARE 0N MOSQUITOES 



just swallowed. Alter another successful catch AND often nestles in 

 there were two specks, and continuing his good THE corollas of flow- 

 work the little creature soon had his stomach 



comfortably full. Then he folded his little arms close to his body 

 and went to sleep. Closer examination showed that there were two 

 species of these little frogs, the second distinguished from the one 

 first noticed by lateral metallic bands. Alcoholic specimens were 

 identified by Dr. Leonhard Stejneger as Hyla squirrda (fig. 27) and 

 Hyla cinerea, respectively. 



In the woods these little creatures were commonly seen clinging to 

 leaves from which they could scarcely be distinguished, and at 

 Homestead, while awaiting transportation to the park, the writer 



1 See North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey, vol. 2, p. 247. 1907. 



