135 



TINGING FROG. 



Rana Tinctoria. R. rufa. corpore albofasciato. 

 Reddish Frog, with the body fasciated with white. 

 La Rouge. Cepede ovip. p. 566. pi. 39. 



Smaller than the European Tree Frog. Na- 

 tive of South America. Of a red or very bright 

 ferruginous colour above, marked with a pair of 

 longitudinal white stripes, which in the younger 

 specimens are often crossed by a transverse stripe. 

 It is a species which varies considerably in the 

 disposition of its colours. It inhabits trees, and 

 is said to be sometimes used by the South Ameri- 

 can Indians for the purpose of introducing new 

 colours on green parrots, which, while yet young, 

 are plucked on particular parts, and afterwards 

 well rubbed or anointed on the bare spots with 

 the blood of this Frog ; in consequence of which, 

 as is pretended, the new feathers on those parts 

 spring of a red or orange-colour instead of green ; 

 thus varying the bird with parti-coloured plumage. 

 The specimen of this Frog described and figured 

 by Cepede had the stripes on the body rather yel- 

 low than white ; so that it probably varies in the 

 colour as well as the disposition of its marks. 



