1910.] MR. T. M. S. EXGMSII OX TASMANIAN FROGS. 633 



of the frog ficcording to its surroundings [cf. coloiu- variations 

 of Limnodynastes tasmaniensis -muI Crinia s'ujiilfera from the same 

 place). 



The note of this frog resembles that of llijla arlxirca, l)ut is not 

 so loud. 



Jlijla eiolnyil has its regular breeding senson in winter. In 

 July, 1902, it was spawning at both Launceston and Devonport, in 

 pools and ditches such as would be chosen by liana teAnporar'm. 

 Its spawn is in masses, very like those of this last frog but smallei'. 

 Tlie first tadpoles appeared at the end of July. They are very 

 small, and at first quite black, becoming paler and silvery under- 

 neath as they develop. 



During November the pools they frequent in a normal season 

 are fast drying up, and the water vs^hicli remains is packed with 

 tadpoles. Early in December these pools are mostly dry, and the 

 tadpoles have either become frogs or perished, the place where 

 the last water stood being covered by a layer of their dried-up 

 bodies. 



7. Hyla aurea. 



This, the largest and most conspicuous of the Tasmanian frogs, 

 seems to be decidedly local. I saw or lieard of it only in the 

 country drained by the North and South Esk rivers, which unite 

 at Launceston to form the tidal Tamar, and by the Mersey, which 

 falls into the sea at Devonport. There is only a low watershed 

 between these two basins. Wherever it is found it seems to be 

 abundant : near Launceston, Perth, Longford, Westbury, Fingal, 

 and Devonpoi^t ; and as it is diurnal, it is not likely to be over- 

 looked if present. 



In its habits it resembles Rana esculenta, being essentially 

 aquatic, ai^d in summer liking to sit in the sun near the water, 

 into which it dives with a splash when alarmed. It is a powerful 

 swimmer ; its usual custom of returning at once to the bank after 

 having dived in, can be well accounted for by the fact that the 

 rivers it frequents all contain large trout. This frog seems to be 

 impatient of cold. In 1902, at Devonpoi't, it disappeared after a 

 few frosty nights at the end of March and the beginning of April, 

 though the weather was on the whole warm for quite six weeks 

 after this. Near Launceston I found large numbers of these frogs 

 binder stones during April, 1 901 . I only once found one climbing ; 

 it had got about three feet from the ground in a bush. 



A well-marked specimen of this sjoecies is most gorgeously 

 coloured : green, gold, blue, and white ; but from tiiis it mny vary 

 to dull brown, and when about to retire for the winter to almost 

 black. 



Beyond an occasional and not very loud croak, I was never able 

 to identify this frog's note, though for a consiilera1)le part of one 

 summer my window overlooked a pond full of them. 



I was not at any of the places which they fi-ecpient during theii- 

 breeding-season : this is proltably September or the beginning of 



