NATURE'S CALENDAR 99 



and are placed around a spike of grass. May 13 



They hatch in about a week, the meta- 



morphosis being complete in about two 



or three weeks. The young immediately 



assume the terrestrial habits of the 



adults." The fullest account of this 



strange and vociferous little batrachian 



will be found in the writings of Dr. C. C. 



Abbott. 



These are the latest of the batrachians 

 to breed, and May sees much further ad- 

 vanced the tadpoles and young of the 

 other species. The wood-frog, in particu- 

 lar, has now become silent and returned to 

 his habitual home, and Pickering's tree- 

 frog ceases peeping long before the " tree- 

 toad " slackens its clucking. 



The snakes are now wide awake and 

 racing about in search of food, which 

 leads them to frequent hay-fields, the 

 abode of mice, and the vicinity of water, 

 where frogs are congregated. Young 

 frogs and toads offer an increasing and 

 easily caught prey. This consequently is 

 a month when it is well to be on the 

 lookout for the copperhead, which is now 

 passing to such feeding-grounds from 

 his winter-quarters in some rocky hill- 

 side, and hence is likely to be met with 

 in roads, paths, and door-yards, wherever 

 this baneful creature is at all prevalent, 

 as unfortunately he is along the Hudson 

 Valley. The same warning may be given 

 as to the rattlesnake in Connecticut and 

 in the Alleghany Mountains. 



