19a 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



The ventral surface is milk white, spotted or marbled with dark brown. 



We will describe, as in the species, a pair which have just bred, and are 

 consequently in their full summer dress. 



The female is larger than the male, and is 3 inches long in the body, the 

 hind leg when extended measures 3| inches long; the fore-leg is 1| inches 

 long, the toes being, unlike those of the hind feet, free and devoid of web. 

 The upper surface of the body, head, and legs, is pea green ; and there is a 

 well marked median dorsal line of a lighter colour than the back, and quite 

 free from spots the markings on the back are generally circular, and seem 

 to run in pairs. As in the common frog, there are two light brown dorsal 

 ridges, along the outer side of which run a series of black blotches, which 

 tend to form a broken line on either side. The upper parts of the hind legs 

 are spotted and barred ; the fore legs are spotted slightly with black. The 

 ventral surface is milk white, with dark brown spots, which are usually larger 

 and more numerous in the abdominal region. 



There is a broken line of black spots, running from the fore to the hind 

 leg, forming a band between the green lateral and the white ventral surfaces. 

 Eye the same as common frog. 



The general ground colour of the male is as that of the female, but darker. 

 The spots on the throat are fewer and very faint, the dorsal black spots not 

 so numerous and more confined to the hind quarters, and the dorsal surfaces 

 of the legs are browner. The male is smaller than the female, measuring in 

 the body %\ inches. He develops on his fore feet the usual suckers during 

 the breeding season. The body is 2 J inches long, hind foot 3 J inches long 

 and much pal mated, fore leg 1J inches long, with toes free. 



In captivity this is decidedly more tamable, more intelligent, and much 

 more active than the other species. It is a sun-loving creature : is more 

 active in the day time, and is a day feeder, taking flies with extraordinary 

 skill. I have placed in the case live flies, and have watched the frogs jump 

 at least 13 inches high, and catch with unerring aim. When taking flies 

 they always thrust out the tongue with amazing rapidity. 



Another interesting mode of feeding them is by placing a batch of worms 

 on the wire cover of the case. The worms begin to make their way through 

 the meshes, which the frogs perceive, and sit, usually in a ring, waiting even- 

 tualities ; as soon as the worm is sufficiently far through the mesh a frog 

 jumps up and secures the delicate morsel ; the height of the cover being 14 

 inches it is a good feat to jump so high and always succeed. 



I have repeatedly seen an edible frog dive into the water after beetles or 

 other water-loving insects, which it captures with great skill. These frogs, 

 as already stated, are very tame, taking food, especially worms, readily from 



