632 MR. T. M. S. ENGLISH ON TASMAXIAN FROGS. [Apr. 5, 



iiuliv'idujil want of power, iind the resulting concert can be fairly 

 falleil noisy. 



The breeding habits of the present sj)ecies are to a large extent 

 those of Vrhiia Icrrts, except that it is more social. I always 

 found large c()ni[)anies gathered together under logs and stones in 

 places where, after rain, ponds would form. They do not .seem 

 to make nests like Crinia Icevis, but deposit theii' eggs under any 

 convenient stone. (I nevei- found any eggs under a log, but this 

 of cour.se may have been accidental.) The eggs do not seem to 

 adhei-e either to each other or to anything else. 



On the 2Uth of April, 1901, I found a collection of these eggs, 

 Avliich I put into water. The tadpoles began to wriggle at once, 

 and within twelve hours they were fi-ee and swimming about. 



6. Hyla ewixgii. (Plate LI. figs. 8, 9.) 



This frog seems to be abundant in most parts of Tasmania. The 

 only place from which I might have recorded it, and did not do so, 

 is Zeehan, and I am almost certain that this is an accidental 

 omission. 



It is on the whole aquatic, seldom going far from water, and 

 living very generally under stones or logs on the bank of some 

 pond or stream. When disturbed, it dives in Avith all speed. 



It does not seem to be really arboi'eal, though it may occasionally 

 climb up ten feet or so from the ground. I have never heai-d its 

 note coming from the top of a. tall tree, as one heai'S that of the 

 European Jli/la arhorea, though this may perhaps be accounted 

 for by the veiy slight shelter from either sun or enemies that a 

 frog would find aiuoug the leaves of any full-grown Tasmanian 

 Eucalyj)tus. 



Where plants are kept in pots on a veranda a colony of the.se 

 fi'ogs usually settles, ai)(l its members seem to appi-eciate regular 

 watering as much as the plants do, generally greeting it with 

 song. 



Except when breeding, ITyla evnngii is inactive during the day. 

 Its regular concerts begin towards sunset, though, as is the ca.se 

 with many other frogs, its voice is heard when rain is approaching, 

 or at times when certain loud noises excite it — i-apid haunnering, 

 for instance. 



It does not seem to hibernate, but is .sluggish in cold weather. 



Its colour is alnio.st invariably some shade of Ijrown, closely 

 resembling that of its immediate surroundings. 



Mr. J. J. Fletcher has found that near the summit of Mount 

 Ko.skiusco, in New fSouth Wales, frogs of this sjiecies are l)riglit 

 green. He attributes this to the fact that at this altitude, though 

 the days may be warm, the nights are almost always frosty ; so 

 that no insects are abroad theI^, and the frogs have to hunt for 

 food by day among green vegetation. 



In January, 1902, I found a specimen at Westbury wlnCh had 

 some liright green patches on its back. The colour of these patches 

 seemed Jixed ; at all events it did not varv ^vitlr that of the lest 



