GREEN TREE-FROG. Hyla arborea. 



CHANGEABLE TREE-TOAD. IJyUt versicoUn. 



It is a noisy creature, especially before rain, and has a curious liquid note, like the 

 letter / frequently repeated, and then ending with a sharp, short monosyllable. During 

 the breeding season, this Frog leaves the trees and retires to the pools, where it may be 

 heard late in the evening. In the winter it burrows beneath the damp soil, and there 

 remains until the spring. The contour of this species is very toad-like in shape and 

 general appearance, and this resemblance is increased by the skin glands, which secrete a 

 peculiarly acrid fluid. 



The upper surface of this creature is, as has already been remarked, too variable for 

 description. There is always, however, a little bright yellow on the flanks, and the under 

 surface is yellowish white, covered with large granulations. The length of this species 

 is about two inches. 



IN the POUCHED FEOG we find a most singular example of structure, the female being 

 furnished with a pouch on her back, in which the eggs are placed when hatched, and 

 carried about for a considerable period. 



This pouch is clearly analogous to the living cradle of the marsupial animals. It is not 

 merely developed when wanted, as is the case with the cells on the back of the Surinam 

 Toad, but is permanent, and lined with skin like that of the back. The pouch does 

 not attain its full development until the creature is of mature age, and the male does not 

 possess it at all. When filled with eggs the pouch is much dilated, and extends over the 

 whole back nearly as far as the back of the head. The opening is not easily seen without 

 careful examination, being very narrow, and hidden in folds of the skin. 



Its colour is very variable, but green has the predominance. It is found in Mexico, 

 but many specimens in the British Museum have been brought from the Andes of 

 Ecuador. 



A VERY curious species, called the LICHENED TREE-TOAD (Tracliyc.ephalm h'ohendtus), 

 labits Jamaica, and is described bv Mr. flossp. in bis " Naturalist's Soiourn >! in that 



inhabits Jamaica, and is described by Mr. Gosse in his 

 island. 



