BATRACHIANS AND REPTILES OF ONTARIO. 



GENUS CHOROPHILUS. 



(*) (13) Chorophilus nigritus. 



(Swamp Tree FrogJ 



The variety found here is C. n. triseriatus. It occurs on the north 

 shore of Lake Superior and westward into Manitoba, but I h'ave no 

 records of its capture in any other part of Canada. 



GENUS HYLA. 



(14) Hyla versicolor. 



(Common Tree Frog.) 



A common and very useful species, well distributed throughout the 

 Province of Ontario. I found it also in Manitoba, but it does not appear 

 to be abundant there. 



It deposits its eggs in the spring on blades of grass, etc., in shallow 

 water, and the metamorphosis takes place quite early, the tadpoles rarely 

 exceeding in size those of the Common Toad. 



This frog possesses the power of changing its colour to suit its 

 environment to a certain extent, the colours running through various 

 shades of green, brown and grey. Amongst leaves or grass the animal 

 will be green. On a lichen covered fence or log it will be brown. The 

 change in colour is not effected very rapidly, but is gradual. 



In the summer the voice of these frogs is continually heard towards 

 evening and in dull weather, from the orchard and wood lot and some- 

 times from the rail fences by the roadside. 



(15) Hyla pickeringii. 



(Pickering's Hyla.) 



Though this small tree frog is abundant everywhere in southern 

 Ontario, it is but very seldom seen. Its diminutive size and secretive 

 habits render it very difficult to observe, though its shrill piped notes 

 ;:re among the most noticeable sounds of spring; for it is this little 

 creature which utters the loud "peep" heard .in the swamps just as the 

 ice goes out. This note is quite often attributed to a lizard or a turtle by 

 people who have the bad habit of guessing at things. 



Late in the summer this Hyla leaves the swamps and ascends the 

 trees and bushes on higher ground and again becomes musical. 



FAMILY RANID.^. (THE FROGS.) 



GENUS RAN A. 



(16) Rana areolata. 



A rare frog. R. a. circulosa, the northern variety, should be more 

 abundant. It has probably been overlooked. 



