48 REPTILES AXD AMPIIIBIAXS 



moment of flitting; toads and "trcf toads" arc tailing?, their resonating 

 throat pouches looking Hke great l)iil>l)les. The colors of May are soft 

 yet brilliant in the new leaves of oak and maple, hornbeam, shadbush and 

 tall blueberry, and everywhere can be seen the gleam of water drops from 

 a recent rainfall. Stand far back at the extreme right and observe the 

 group; also at the left, and note how the foreground leads into and is 

 carried on by the background. It is as though we could walk far into the 

 woods that stretch before us shining in the sun. The group shows the fol- 

 lowing species together with eggs and larvie as they are in early May: 

 two species of toads, the American at the left and Fowler's at the right; 

 three kinds of frogs, the spotted pickerel frogs, the green frogs and the 

 little brown wood frogs; two kinds of tree frogs, the spring peeper at the 

 left, the common "tree toad" at the right; two of salamanders, spotted 

 amblystomas and American newts, besides some snakes and turtles common 

 at this season. Two of the most frequent questions asked by those who 

 \isit the country and are interested in its small animal life are '' What is the 

 difference between a toad and a frog?" and "How can I tell frog's eggs from 

 toad's eggs and from salamander's eggs?" These questions are answered 

 definitely by the group, which is the first attempt to reproduce in permanent 

 form the gelatinous egg masses and developing tadpoles at different stages. 

 The plant life is typical of early INIay in New England. A wild apple tree 

 is in blossom over a tumble-do\\Ti stone wall. Wild flowers are so per- 

 fectly made that although set close before the eyes of the observer and in 

 the most brilliant light, yet it is difficult to see that they are not real — 

 yellow marsh marigolds, blue violets, Jack-in-the-pulpits, white anemones, 

 star flowers and trilliums and red columbines. The group emphasizes in its 

 fine detailed technique the expert character of the Museum's artists working 

 in wax and glass. 



