FAMILY RANID^. 69 



GENUS HYLODES. Fitzinger. 



Teethin the upper maocillary, and palatines. A tympanum. Extremities slender. Tips of 

 the fingers and toes terminating in slightly developed tubercles. Mouth with a large sub- 

 cordiform tongue. No bony sternum. 



Obs. This genus comprises several small species, and is intermediate between Rana and 

 Hyla, partaking of the habits of both. 



PICKERING'S HYLODES. 



Hylodes pickeringi. 



PLATE XX. FIG. 51. 



Hyloda pickeringi. Holbbook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol.4, p. 135, pi. 34. 



H. id. Essex Nat. Hist. Society, Vol. 1. 



Pickering's Hylodes. Stoker, Report on the Reptiles of Massachusetts, p. 240. 



Characteristics. Reddish brown or blackish brown ; two angular dusky lines above ; hind legs 

 barred with dusky. Length one inch. 



Description. Body somewhat ventricose, with its surface slightly granulate. Head trian- 

 gular, obtusely pointed. Granulated beneath on the belly and thighs. Fore legs half the 

 length of the head and body. Thigh and tibia slightly exceeding the tarsus and toes, and 

 equalling in length the head and body. Tongue fleshy, retractile. A row of exceedingly 

 minute teeth in the upper jaw, and similar ones in two rounded patches in the middle of the 

 palate. 



Color. This varies apparently at the will of the animal. One which I kept for several 

 days, presented constantly the following appearances : Color of the head, body and legs above 

 a light reddish brown, tinged with yellowish on the side ; upper lip yellowish white ; a dark tri- 

 angular spot on the back part of the head. Irides golden ; pupil black. On the anterior part 

 of the back, two angular dusky lines en chevron, touching at their apices, and forming the 

 figure of a cross ; posterior to this, another angular mark across the back ; a dusky blotch 

 on the posterior part of the body ; a dark lateral stripe on the side. Thighs and legs with 

 broad dusky bands ; a dusky longitudinal line on the fore and hind legs, separating the two 

 colors above and beneath. Beneath dull whitish, with numerous black dots sprinkled on the 

 yellowish throat. At other times the general color is a uniform dark brown, with the mark- 

 ings on the upper part of the body as described above, deep black. 



Length of head and body, I'O. 



To the ends of the toes, 3"0. 



This species is common in the neighborhood of New- York, and is frequently found on indian 

 com, grape vines, and also in green houses, under the leaves of plants during the heats of 



