The Green Tree Frog 



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

 CaroHna, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, 

 Missouri, and Texas. It is also found in southern Illinois. 



The Green Tree Frog is perhaps the most beautiful tree frog 

 of North America. Its slender form and smooth fine coat of 

 green and gold certainly give it an air of distinction. It is more 

 slender than any other North American tree frog. The slender- 

 ness is accentuated also by the lengthwise stripes of metallic white 

 or yellow. 



As to colouration, this tree frog has great ability to change 

 from light to dark. The colour may be nearly black, or it may be 

 so light a greenish yellow that the stripes can scarcely be dis- 

 tinguished. There is some variation in colour pattern; that is, 

 the light bands on the legs may be narrowed or obsolete, the light 

 band of the side may extend no farther than half-way instead of 

 quite to the posterior end of the body, and the dark bands border- 

 ing the light ones may be distinct or wholly lacking. One tree 

 frog^ found at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, wholly lacked the stripes 

 of the sides. This Hyla sometimes has a few small orange, black- 

 rimmed spots on the back. 



The legs are so long that, except when it is leaping or resting, 

 the frog seems very awkward. In fact, it very often loses its dig- 

 nified air and becomes extremely ludicrous in appearance. It is 

 gentle and not easily frightened. In this it is like Hyla versicolor 

 and Hyla gratiosa and radically different from some of the smaller 

 North American Hylas, such as squirella, pickeringii, and regilla. 

 When aroused, however, it becomes as active as any tree frog. 



The Green Tree Frog is most interesting when kept in cap- 

 tivity. It lives high among the ferns and vines of its moss-garden, 

 and is especially fond of flies. It will see a fly at a distance of 

 three or four feet, and will catch it, making but one leap over the 

 intervening distance. It is said that this tree frog can leap a 

 distance of eight to ten feet. When the call is given, the throat- 

 pouch is inflated and the body over the lungs swells and relaxes 

 forcibly. 



These tree frogs live at the margins of bodies of water, on the 



1 In possession of G. S. Miller, U. S. Nat. Museum. 



127 



