1863.] DR. A. GUNTHER ON AUSTRALIAN TREE-FROGS. 249 



29. Pavonia ilioneus, Cramer. 



This is a widely distributed species in Tropical America. I find 

 no difference worthy of note between Amazonian, Bogota, and Pa- 

 nama examples. 



30. Pavonia automedon, Cramer. 



Also a widely distributed species, reaching as far south as Bahia 

 in Brazil. The single Panama example does not differ from those 

 taken by myself in the Amazons region. 



31. EupTYCHiA ocYRRHOE, Fabricius. 



This small and weak-flying insect is also widely distributed, and 

 appears to remain constant in its specific characters. 



2. Observations on Australian Tree-Frogs living in the 

 Society's Menagerie. By Dr. A, Gunther. 



(Plate XXX.) 



The only Australian Batrachian which, to my knowledge, has 

 until lately been exhibited in the Society's menagerie is Pelodryas 

 cceruleus {Hyla ccerulea, White), a specimen of which, almost 

 unobserved, lived there for two or three years. In the beginning of 

 the spring of this year, however, an opportunity was taken of pro- 

 curing eight specimens, which were imported by a collector from New 

 South Wales, and which belonged to four species, viz. to Pelodryas 

 ccBruleus, Hyla peronii, Hyla krefftii, and to an apparently unde- 

 scribed form, which we shall name Hijla phyllochroa. Having had 

 opportunity of observing these for sorne time in the Gardens in the 

 Regent's Park, as well as at my own house, I may make the following 

 remarks. In general, I was surprised to find a great similarity in their 

 habits with those of our common European Tree-frog. They sleep 

 during the day, squatting in a corner, generally selecting a place in 

 which they are hidden from view, but easily roused on the approach 

 of some insect, which they seize with their tongue. When the prey 

 is large, or when they have accidentally seized a small piece of wood, 

 &c., together with the insect, they use their fore foot to push the in- 

 sect into the mouth, or to remove the object which is unfit for food. 

 They never enter the water during the summer months, and tried 

 to escape from a tank when put into it. They leave their hiding- 

 places towards dusk, becoming very lively, apparently less with the 

 object of obtaining food (which they can only procure by quietly 

 remaining in wait for it) than with that of enjoying themselves ; and 

 Pelodryas cceruleus, which is endowed with a voice, indulged every 

 evening in a musical performance. They became more quiet after 

 midnight, and at sunrise they had settled down at some resting- 

 place, sometimes one individual choosing the same place for several 

 consecutive days. They preferred bluebottle flies to every other 

 insect, and never touched ants or black beetles. Pelodryas cceruleus 



