450 CLASS REPTILIA. 



These hylae are sometimes found in very numerous 

 troops ; the bushes and weeds are completely covered with 

 them, and their croaking may be heard at the distance of en- 

 tire leagues. 



The hyla lateralis makes prodigious leaps. When young, 

 it is called in the United States the cricket of the Savannahs, 

 its cry there resembling the noise made by that insect. 



It is seldom seen in the day-time, but it proceeds to some 

 distance, and makes itself heard during the night. It leaps 

 from branch to branch, ascending to the very top of the 

 highest trees, to catch flies and other insects. 



Linnasus, and many other herpetologists, have made of this 

 species only a simple variety of the preceding. 



The hyla tinctoria is found in various parts of South 

 America, especially in Surinam, and the interior of Guiana. 

 It inhabits woods, living on the trees almost the entire year, 

 conceals itself under their bark during the cool nights, and 

 seldom visits the water but for the purpose of coupling, and 

 leaving its eggs. 



Lacepede and Buffon state that this is the species employed 

 by the Indians to change the plumage of parrots from green to 

 red, in some parts. For this purpose it is said, that they 

 pluck out the green feathers from these birds when young, 

 and rub the wounded skin with the blood of the hyla. The 

 feathers which grow after this, are of a fine red or yellow. 



A species called by Laurenti the hyla tibiatriw, is said by 

 Seba to be American, and to croak in a most melodious 

 manner during the very hot weather after the setting of the 

 sun, which usually betokens fine weather. During cold and 

 rainy periods the animal is silent, and conceals itself at the 

 bottom of the water. 



Daudin has enumerated some others of this division, but 

 there is nothing in their history which could interest our 

 readers. 



