Anderson's Hyla 



The specimen photographed moulted the skin February loth. 

 For several hours before the moult the skin was very dry and 

 lustreless, and the frog kept rubbing one hand and then the other 

 over the head and eyes, as if in discomfort. The skin was thin 

 and white. It was shed in one piece and swallowed as it was shed, 

 in just the manner described for the similar process in the toad 

 and frog. 



This Hyla differs conspicuously from Hyla versicolor and 

 Hyla regilla, in fact from most of its nearest relatives in North 

 America, by the fact that it has apparently but a limited power 

 to change colour. The green may pale or deepen, it may even 

 take on a tinge of brown; the lavender tints of hand and foot 

 may be extremely light, or so dark that they become a deep pur- 

 plish brown. But when we compare this with the radical and 

 rapid changes in Hyla regilla and others, the limitation is very 

 evident. As far as observed, the pattern of dress is never obscured. 



Hyla andersonii is an agile climber, but ascends largely by 

 clasping the hands and feet around the support. The adhesive 

 power of the disks is relatively not great, and the under-surface of 

 the body does not seem to aid them as much in climbing as it 

 does many tree frogs. On a relatively smooth vertical surface up 

 which Hyla cinera, versicolor, pickeringii, regilla, and many others 

 will climb rapidly and with confidence, Anderson's Hyla holds 

 itself with great difficulty, even for the space of a few seconds. 



The call of the specimen that was found June, 1888, is 

 described as made up of a shrill note repeated three of four times 

 in succession. Those discovered in June, 1889, were found during 

 and preceding a thunder storm, clinging to the under sides of pine 

 twigs in a swampy thicket. Their throats were swollen in the 

 manner characteristic of the Hylas, and before the disturbance 

 came, their voices made part of a chorus that emanated from all 

 parts of the swamp. The single note was compared to that of a 

 guinea-fowl, or of the rail. 



Hyla andersonii is certainly rare, and, as far as discovered, 

 has an unusually limited distribution. However, it is probable 

 that the apparent limit of range, and the seeming scarcity within 

 this range, are due, in part at least, to the retiring habits of the 

 tree frog, and in part to the inaccessible character of its chosen 

 haunts. 



^33 



