THE TREE FROGS. 173 



Whatever has been faid of the inftinfl or agility of frogs, applies with 

 greater force to the Green or Common Tree Frogt which, in fize, is lefs 

 than the frog. Colour, on the upper parts, a beautiful green j beneath, 

 where it has fmall tubercles, whitifli. A yellow ftreak, {lightly bordered 

 with violet, extends on each fide the head and back, from the nofe to the' 

 hind feet; and another, anfwering it, from the upper jaw to the front 

 feet. The head is fhort, as large as the body, but a little fnubbed in 

 front. The jaws are rounded ; the eyes elevated. The body is fliorc, 

 almoft triangular; very broad near the head, convex above, flat beneath. 

 The front feet, which have but four toes, are fliort and thick ; thofe be- 

 hind have five toes ; are very long and thin. The nails are fiat and 

 rounded. 



The Green Tree Frog leaps with fuperior agility to the common Frog, 

 becaufe its hind legs are fo much longer than the front. It pafTes all the 

 fine weather in the midft of the woods, or branches of trees : its fkin is fo 

 fticky, and its toes fo adhefive, that it has but to place itfelf any where 

 on a leaf, above or below, and it fears not falling. Gates by fays, they 

 have the faculty of rendering their little knobs concave, which occafioning 

 a vacuity, attaches them more ftrongly to the furface on which they 

 faften. He fays alfo that they fometimes leap twelve feet. In fine 

 weather they are feen darting on the infers that come within their reach j 

 thefe they ftrike with their tongues like frogs, leaping from branch to 

 branch. Like frogs, they continue long in their tadpole (late; nor at- 

 tain complete maturity till after three or four years, when they couple i 

 till then they are nearly filent, even the males. They feek each other 

 in the waters as frogs ; and, in winter, hide in marfhy places, bur always 

 thofe furrounded with trees, as if they ftill paid attention to what is their 

 favourite refidence. In April or May they are found in the lakes, and 

 vv-ith fonorous croakings, perpetually repeated, and multiplied by every 

 neighbour's note in addition, like a pack of hounds in full cry, they 

 compofe a mcft noify chorus, which, in the filence of night, when rain 

 is expeifted, may be heard at a league diftance. The young are often 

 two months before they attain their mod perfeft (late; but, fo foon as 

 they are perfed, they forfake the waters for the woods. May be kept in 

 houfes without much trouble. Is found in Europe (the fGULhcrn parts)^ 

 in Africa, and America. 



One American fpecies is milk white, with faded jpots. 



That which our plate reprefents is the American kind, ufed by the 

 Indians to colour the feathers of young parrots red or yellow. By 



Fast V, No. 28. ' Q g ' plucking 



