368 COMMON FROGS AND TOADS 



vary according to the climatic conditions prevail- 

 ing at different times of year. The most beautiful 

 of all the frogs occurring about Calcutta is one 

 in which the upper surface is painted in the most 

 vivid emerald green, contrasting wonderfully with 

 the snowy white of the under parts and with two 

 patches of bright rose-colour near the angles of the 

 mouth. Specimens of it are rarely noticed, but this 

 may in great part be due to their essentially aquatic 

 habits, and also to the wonderful way in which 

 their colouring harmonises with that of the floating 

 leaves on which they sit when they do emerge from 

 the water. They very seldom venture to land upon 

 the banks of a pond, and are usually to be seen 

 sitting motionless on the leaves of Nymphaeas or 

 Nelumbiums, and ready on the least alarm to slip 

 off into the surrounding water. 



Towards the end of the rainy season, when 

 everything is at its wettest, and specially in years 

 when the rainfall has been so abundant as to 

 cause the formation of numerous temporary pools 

 in the hollows of grass-land, a curious little song 

 may often be heard issuing from garden lawns. 

 So sweet and clear is it, that, unless the nature 

 of the songster is already known, it may readily be 

 mistaken for that of a bird. If, however, the places 

 from which it proceeds be stealthily approached and 

 absolute immobility be maintained, it will be found 

 that the songsters really are very small and wonder- 



