Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 105 



23. Hyla carolinensis Pennant. Carolina Tree Frog* 

 Green Tree Frog. Bell Frog. 



Rana viridis arborea, Hyla viridis var. J5, Hyla cinerea var. semi- 

 fasciata, Rana ardorea var., Calamita carolinensis, Calamita 

 cinerea, Rana bilineata, Hyla lateralis, Calamita lateralis, Hyla 

 viridis, Hyla semifasciata, Hyla cinerea. 



Description. — Head rather small, about as long as broad. Snout 

 rather pointed, sides of snout somewhat oblique. Tongue short, free 

 at the sides and for about one-third its length from behind; notched 

 behind. Vomerine teeth in two, short, transverse series between the 

 choanae. Tympanum very distinct, about two-thirds the diameter of the 

 eye. Body slender. The extremities are slender and elongate also. 

 The heel of the extended hind legs marks the end of the muzzle. Tibia 

 about half the length of the body. Webs and fingers small, disks large; 

 that of the first digit smallest. Webs extend to the base of the distal 

 phalanx in all the four toes. The third toe is a little longer than the 

 fifth; fourth toe the longest. There is a soft tubercle at the base of 

 the inner toe and a very rudimentary one at the base of the outer. 

 Disks not as large as those of the fingers. The surface above is smooth 

 or very faintly granulated. The belly and lower parts of thighs are 

 strongly granulated; the throat moderately so. 



Color. — Color above varies from bright pea-green through various 

 shades of gray to almost black, with specks of orange on the back, 

 and a wide buff or light yellowish stripe, beginning at the tip of the 

 snout and extending along the upper jaw, under the tympanum and 

 along the side, to the posterior end of the body, or terminating on the 

 side of the abdomen. Iris golden, pupil elongate in life. Color beneath 

 yellowish or flesh-color, unspotted; throat at the angle of the mouth 

 yellowish. Legs green or gray above, pale beneath; discs and webs 

 pale. A pale stripe extends along the posterior face, and upon the 

 base of the arm to that of the fourth finger. A similar pale stripe 

 extends along the posterior face of the tarsus and is continued upon 

 the fifth toe of the posterior leg. (Garman.) 



Size. — Male. Length of head and body 60 mm.; from tip of snout 

 to axilla 20 mm. Femur 26 mm. Tibia 28 mm. Tarsus and fourth 

 toe together 38 mm. 



Habitat. — Found in the southern United States, both 

 east and west of the Mississippi. It is reported from the 

 Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, 

 Texas and Missouri. The first knowledge of this species 

 in the State of Missouri I had through Dr. Cope's Ba- 

 trachia of North America, where he cites two specimens, 

 No. 1070 of the Smithsonian Collection, sent in by Dr. 



