120 OHIO STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



Hyla versicolor Le Conte. Skin granular above, colored ash-gray to 

 brown. Superciliary lines of brown, converging on back. In middle of 

 back an H-shaped brown blotch. Yellow below. Ear large. Fingers one- 

 third webbed ; discs large. Length 2 inches. 



This is the common Tree-toad with its reputed prognosticat- 

 ing powers with respect to the weather. That the toad foretells 

 a period of rain by its chirping is a myth of the first magnitude. 

 If there be any foundation of truth in the matter, the Tree-toad 

 chirps only toward evening or when clouds obscure the sun, the 

 latter being a condition concomitant with rain. A clear evening 

 following a rain is par excellence the Tree-toad's hour of song. 



The toad has, to a limited extent, the power of changing the 

 the color of its skin similar to the Chameleon, but it is a matter 

 of chance that it assumes the color of the substratum. Common 

 everywhere. 



Specimens in Oberlin College Museum, collected by Lynds Jones from 

 Lorain Co. In O. S. U. Mus., collected by E. V. Wilcox at Westerville and 

 Columbus ; by the author at Vinton, Chillicothe, Youngstown and Lick- 

 ing Co. 



Tribe: FlRMlSTERNlA. 

 Including the remaining BATRACHIA, the Frogs. 



Family : Ranidae. 



Rana virescens virescens Kalm. Green above, with irregular black 

 or brownish blotches with white edges arranged in two irregular rows, the 

 blotches alternating. Two spots between eyes. Front of thigh with a long- 

 itudinal band of brown. Head short. Length 3 inches. 



The common frog of river, stream and swamp. Often found 

 in thick grass far from water, perhaps migrating. Abundant 

 everywhere. 



Specimens in Oberlin College Museum, collected by Lynds Jones in 

 Lorain Co. In O. S. U. Museum, by E. V. Wilcox at Gypsum and Sugar 

 Grove ; by the author at Vinton and Youngstown. 



*Rana virescens brachycephala Cope. Form with shorter head (3^ 

 times in length of body). Spots on upper part of body larger. Transversely- 

 running markings on crux not interrupted. No longitudinal band on anter- 

 ior border of thigh. 



Given by Cope ('89, p. 403) as ranging from Massachusetts 

 to the Sierras. No record for Ohio. 



