FROGS, TOADS, AND SALAMANDERS 



241 



the family of true toads or frogs but fall in a family by them- 

 selves. The tree toads (Fig. 168) of our country are noted 

 for their loud voices. It is these that we hear piping so 

 shrilly in the early 

 spring. In the even- 

 ing, after a rain, the 

 loud, clear piping of 

 the little tree, toad, 

 known as Hyla versi- 

 color, is almost in- 

 variably heard. It 

 is called versicolor, 

 because, like many 

 other tailless amphib- 

 ians, it possesses the 

 power of changing 

 the shade, or tint of 

 its skin. Ordinarily, 

 it is gray above 

 with dark, irregular 

 blotches, greatly re- 

 sembling the bark of 

 trees (Fig. 169), on 

 which it lives. On 

 the under sides of all of its toes and fingers are small 

 adhesive disks by which it is enabled to cling to the trunks 

 and branches of trees. It is also able to leap two or three 

 feet from branch to branch. 



Characteristics of the group. — To sum up, the Amphibia 

 are animals that, in general, live a double life. That is, 

 one part of their lives, the first part, is passed in the water, 

 with few exceptions, while the later, or adult stage, is usually 



Fig. 



16S. — Tree toad {Hyla versicolor). 

 the suction disks on tlie toes. 



Note 



HERRICK'S ZOOL. 



■16 



