2i6 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



H. martinicensis, of the West Indies, which is light 

 yellow in colour, with dark brown markings, undergoes 

 the whole of its development within the tgg. This frog, 

 some fifteen years ago, was unintentionally introduced into 

 the hot-houses at Kew, where it has maintained itself to 

 the present day. The following is an extract from a letter 

 on the subject, by Dr. Giinther, which appeared in 

 Nature : " A short time ago I was informed by Mr. W. 

 Watson, the Assistant Curator, that in some of the hot- 

 houses specimens of a small frog had been noticed, which, 

 hiding away during the day among the pots and orchid 

 baskets, enlivened the quiet evenings with their shrill, 

 whistling notes. Suspecting that this frog must be a 

 foreign importation, I asked the Director to allow some of 

 the specimens to be caught, and some days later I had the 

 pleasure of receiving three specimens in excellent condition. 

 Mr. Watson recollects that he observed it first some ten 

 years ago, that he lost sight of it for some time, but that 

 it reappeared about four or five years ago. Taking into 

 consideration the few facts with which we are acquainted 

 as to the reproduction of this frog, it seems most probable 

 that several specimens of both sexes were, on more than 

 one occasion, accidentally introduced. However that 

 may be, it is evident that the frogs have freely propagated 

 since their introduction. At present they are most 

 numerous in the propagating houses, in which the tem- 

 perature ranges between 80° and 100°, sinking in winter 

 to nearly 60°. Accompanying Mr. Watson one evening, 

 I heard from several points the call of the frogs, which 

 somewhat resembled the piping of a nestling bird ; and. 

 guided by the sound, I had soon the pleasure of seeing one 

 of them clinging to the side of a glass case. There is 



