268 
Rustic Adornments. 
Amongst the more easily obtainable and amusing animals that should be 
sought for a vivarium, are lizards and frogs. Chameleons are not well adapted 
for confinement in these constructions, but may be kept in perfect health and 
safety on a shelf over a fireplace, or in a sunny window, a twiggy branch of 
a tree firmly fixed in some kind of stand being all they require. 
It is not desirable to enumerate the creatures likely to be kept in small 
vivaria, but we must give especial attention to one which must be regarded as 
most desirable of all—the pretty green tree-frog. 
There are several species of frogs which may be collectively described as 
“ green,” but the green tree-frog is most distinct in appearance and habit from 
all the marsh-inhabiting ranae, for it is amphibious in only a qualified degree, 
and, as its name implies, it lives very much among the branches of trees. It 
is known among naturalists as Hyla arborea , sometimes as Hyla viridis , on 
account of its bright green colour. It is a native of France and Germany, 
hence readily adapts itself to the climate of this country, and will, perhaps, 
some day be acclimatized as an addition to our fauna. This little agile frog is 
of a vivid emerald green colour over the whole of the upper surface of the 
body, with the exception of two black marks, which extend from the eyes to 
the inner side of the shoulders. Beneath, his colour is a greenish white, and 
the skin is semi-transparent, and of a most delicate texture. The eyes are 
prominent and of a lustrous black. 
Though it delights in water, and needs to have it always within reach, it 
is in summer'time but partially amphibious. It will now and then swim round, 
and then ascend the glass, where it would remain motionless for hours, holding 
tight by means of its toe-suckers and the delicate membrane of the stomach, 
which indeed it depends on chiefly when attached to a smooth surface. A 
ten-inch bell-glass affords plenty of room for half-a-dozen of these frogs, and 
escape is prevented by covering the top with wire gauze. Once or twice a 
week they should have liberty to leap about and climb the windows, to catch 
flies for themselves. Meanwhile, the rockwork is lifted out, the pebbles washed, 
and the glass cleaned, and the whole made bright for use again. They become 
very tame, and will sit on the finger, and leap from it when the buzzing of a 
blow-fly arouses them. 
Chameleons and green tree-frogs are desirable reptiles to keep in a 
heated greenhouse. They are exceedingly partial to aphides and will 
generally keep the plants free of these pests. The temperature of the house 
must never fall below 50 degrees, or the chameleon especially will not live. 
