EARLY VOICES OF SPRING. 5 



sing either sharp or flat. So the whole effect is shrill 

 rather than melodic, notwithstanding the fact that 

 the F is constantly snggesting the finale of a plaintive 

 melody. 



But that is just like Nature — she is ever suggest- 

 ing, and leaving all beyond to our imagination. A 

 close examination of the body of the 

 httle frog emphasizes this fact. 

 There is a strong suggestion of a 

 Saint Andrew's cross on his ocher- 

 colored* back, unmistakably defined 

 in narrow lines, and a narrow dark 

 fine extends from the tip of the nose 

 to the eye. The X is quite suffi- 

 ciently plain to prevent any con- ' spring Peeper, 



. -^ ^ •' showing the St. An- 



fusion in the identification of Hy- drew's cross on 



. ... , ^^^ back. 



la ^wkerinffii with young tree 

 toads {Ilyla versicolor), or with other frogs of simi- 

 lar size and color, for no other small frog is marked 

 with a cross. 



This Hyla is a characteristic tree frog, who with 

 his padded toes ascends the tallest trees with ease, 

 and takes to the water only for a brief time in 

 spring, which is his nuptial season. When the 



* It may be slightly green, as the frog possesses to a certain 

 degree the power of color change. 



