THE GREEN TREE-FROG. 



169 



merry little animal, uttering its cricket-like chirp with continual reiteration, even in 

 captivity. Should it be silent, an event sometimes greatly to be wished, it can at any 

 time be roused to utterance by sprinkling it with water. It is easily tamed, learns to 

 know its owner, and will take flies from his hand. 



This species frequents the borders of stagnant pools, and is frequently found on the 

 leaves of aquatic plants and of shrubs that overhang the water. It is not, however, 

 possessed of such strongly adhe- 

 sive powers as the true Tree- 

 Frogs, and is unable to sustain 

 itself on the under side of a leaf. 

 It is very active, as may be sur- 

 mised from the slender body and 

 very long hind-legs, and, when 

 frightened, can take considerable 

 leaps for the purpose of avoiding 

 the object of its terror. 



The color of this species is 

 greenish brown above, diversified 

 by several large oblong spots 

 edged with white, and a streak 

 of green, or sometimes chestnut, 

 which runs along the spine and 

 divides at the back of the head, 

 sending off a branch to each eye. 

 The legs are banded with dark- 

 brown, and the under surface is 

 yellowish gray with a slight tinge 

 of pink. It is but a little creature, 

 measuring only an inch and a half 

 in length. 



Another species (Hyla Carolinensis) is sometimes called by the same popular title, 

 because its voice, like that of the preceding species, bears some resemblance to that of 

 a cricket. Being one of the true Tree- Frogs, it is not a frequenter of the water, but 

 proceeds to the topmost branches of trees, and there chirps during the night. 



ANOTHER family, containing the well-known Tree- Frog of Europe, has the toes 

 webbed, and the processes of the vertebrae flattened. The best-known species is the 

 common GREEN TREE-FROG of Europe, now so familiar from its frequent introduction 

 into fern-cases and terrestrial vivaria. 



This pretty creature is mostly found upon trees, clinging either to their branches or 

 leaves, and being generally in the habit of attaching itself to the under-side of the 

 leaves, which it resembles so strongly in color, that it is almost invisible even when its 

 situation is pointed out. When kept in a fern-case, it is fond of ascending the perpen- 

 dicular glass sides, and there sticking firmly and motionless, its legs drawn closely to 

 the body, and its abdomen flattened against the glass. 



The food of the Tree-Frog consists almost entirely of insects, worms, and similar 

 creatures, which are captured as they pass near the leaf whereto their green foe is ad- 

 hering. It is seldom seen on the ground except during the breeding season, when it 

 seeks the water, and there deposits its eggs much in the same manner as the common 

 Frog. The Tadpole is hatched rather late in the season, and does not attain its per- 

 fect form until two full months have elapsed. Like the Toad, the Tree-Frog swallows 

 its skin after the change. The common Tree-Frog is wonderfully tenacious of life, 

 suffering the severest wounds without seeming to be much distressed, and having even 

 been frozen quite stiff in a mass of ice without perishing. 



The following interesting account of a young Tree-Frog is by Mr. G. S. Ulla- 

 thorne : 



SAVANNAH CRICKET FROQ.-Acr/s gryllus. 



