636 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



full development in autumn, and that the brooding instinct devel- 

 oped by this time, is held in abeyance until spring, when the frog 

 wakes and recommences the song begun the autumn before. 



During the autumn of 1900 this frog was heard singing at the 

 edge of the lake from October 28 to November 20. 



These frogs can usually be seen better during the autumn than 

 any other time. They are then to be found on the ground in damp 

 situations and are somewhat sluggish and inactive. They are 

 quite handsome and elegant in appearance. 



These little frogs often fall a prey to the large-mouth black 

 bass and pickerel and are sometimes used for bait by anglers. 



Fingers and toes ending in small disks; fingers not webbed, 

 toes scarcely so. Tympanum distinct. Bluish ash, a dark dorsal 

 stripe from snout backward, bifurcating above middle of body; a 

 stripe on each side of this and one on side of head and body, the 

 latter pale-edged below. Length 1 inch. 



12. COMMON TREE-TOAD 



HYLA VERSICOLOR Le Conte 



The Tree-toad is generally common throughout the United 

 States east of Kansas. At Lake Maxinkuckee it is frequently 

 heard in the evenings or in damp weather preceding a rain. Very 

 few examples were seen, however, and it does not appear to be 

 abundant. One was taken August 6; on September 13 one was 

 found on the rushes near Lakeview Hotel. It was dark blue-green 

 in color to simulate the rushes on which it was found. Three 

 examples were obtained near the lake July 8. The first one heard 

 in 1901 was on April 29 and the species continued trilling through 

 the summer. In 1906, two examples were seen, both of the usual 

 gray color it assumes when resting on bark. 



One of the favorite haunts of the Tree-toad in spring is in 

 clumps of low willows growing in wet situations. Here they nestle 

 in a crotch and trill almost continuously. Even when they can be 

 heard everywhere they are difficult to find, as the sound is hard to 

 follow, and they become silent at one's near approach. Their re- 

 semblance in color to the object upon which they rest protects 

 them, and by the time one gets close enough to distinguish them 

 clearly they give a prodigious leap to safety, the bright colors of 

 their under parts showing like a streak of yellow through the air. 



Green, gray or brown with irregular dark blotches ; below yel- 

 low, behind white ; tympanum f diameter of eye ; fingers ^ webbed ; 

 skin with small warts. Length 2 inches. 



