32 BROOKLYN' IXSTITrTK IMI-SlCrM. SCIKXCK BrLLKTIX 2. 3- 
4. CO.MMOX TRHH FROG 
Ilyla irrsiio/or Le Cunte 
Length of body 3.8;) to 5 centimeters ( i .50 to 2 inches ). Skin rough and slightly 
warty. Toes tipped with climbing discs. Color above, gray with black spots. .\ 
typical .specimen has a black five-pointed .star in the middle of its back. Some yellow 
in the folds of the limbs. T-.i1er parts very light gray. 
The liatrachian wlmsj n ite is tht- must cninni()nl\- heard, ami the 
mo.st widely known on Lon- Island, is the conunon tree fros or "tree toad." 
All through the summer its\-oice ma\ fre(|Uentl>- he heard calling; for rain, 
as farmer.s .suppose. Its home is in the trees. The tii)s of its toes are 
equipped with ]iads whieh enahle it to clind) with great ex]iertness. .\ 
tree frog that is disturlied will make a tlxing lea]., and will readil\ cling 
to the first -branch that it touches. 
Tree frogs seek the water in .May or June to la\ their eggs. In di;, 
the first (me of the .seasini was heard in Patchogue on May third, hut the 
time of their ajipearance in the water is uncertain. Sometimes the\ 
ap]iear sudilenl\ in large numhers. In U)i3 thev ajipeared graduall\-, 
and disa]i]ieared in the same wa\ . 
The voice of the tree frog is a loud, musical trill, like a low i)itched 
whistle. It may be recogni/.e<l 1)\ its e.xtremelx I'mnounctd trill. Ivach 
individual call lasts about twd secoiids. and max be reiieated at intervals 
of ten to twent>- .seconds. 
When a tree frog sings, it distends a throat pouch to about the si/e 
of its head. The vocal pouch \ ibrates with the trilling, and so its 
lihotograph will often be blurred. The frog usuall_\' sings while sitting 
U])right in a dry ])lace. such as a lil\ pad ^r a branch over the water. It 
is not esiieciallx- sh\ . and is usnall\ ea-\ to pliotograjih. 
besides Its trill, the tree frog has another note that is not generallx 
ote is exacllx like the sound made b\ a 
r mates. It is a low, moin-nfid "chow, 
istled with a descending jiitch, repeated 
,vo ,,r three seconds. When I first heard 
the sounds, their source was a m> ster\, for tlie\ were infrecpient. ISut 
at last I disco\-ered the musicians. Silting on a small limb just aboxe 
the water were two tree frogs about six inches apart. Turning about 
and facing each other, one ga\e its tnrke\ call liy chiriiing. whilif 
nodding Its head and bodx with ever> chirp, like a imp])y barking. It 
was at once answered by the other in the same wa\-. The two then 
kn. 
IWI 
11 and 
reco.:. 
!,ni/ 
ed. Tl 
hei 
1 ti 
u'keN 
that 
■ailing t. 
ch< 
'W. 
chow 
>, Chc 
IW, 
ch..w.' 
ab. 
)Ut 
three 
time 
s a 
second 1 
