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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 6

Hyla

Hyla.

No finger opposite to the three others; toes completely webbed.

H. Ewingii. Australia and Tasmania.

A small frog, 1¼ or 1½ inch in length. Above greyish or reddish, more or less spotted with a darker band in the middle of the back. The Museum is in possession of specimens from almost every part of Australia, the west coast excepted.

H. Krefftii. East coast.

Rather rare in collections; colour when dark of a rich chestnut with fine black spots, and a vertebral band from between the eyes to the vent; inner sides of legs bright pink. When asleep or exposed to the sun this frog changes almost to dead white. We procure our specimens from a district covered with Zamias, and find them between the fronds of this dwarf palm; in winter under stones in moist rocky places, or under the bark of the tea-tree. The male has a loud shrill voice.

H. Verreauxii. East coast.

This tree-frog is very common almost everywhere on the eastern border; the colour is uniform greyish-brown, with a darker band from between the eyes to the vent. Males with a yellowish vocal sack. The shrill almost bird-like voice of this little frog is very remarkable after or during rain, and as deafening as the noise of the locusts. Verreaux's frog has been tamed on several occasions, and we remember one which lived for years in a shell on the mantel-piece of a hospitable homestead in the Hawkesbury District. He was in the habit of coming out at night, hopping about for a short distance, but generally preferred to wait for the flies which the children gathered for him. This specimen had grown to more than double its usual size. Another frog of the same kind, kept in a fern-case, always cried lustily when one of the larger species tried to swallow it, and being released would keep on its deliverer's shoulder for hours together.

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H. jervisiensis.

Probably a variety of the former species.

H. rubella. North-east and North coast.

This is the smallest tree-frog known to us, and distinguished by a black throat.

H. phyllochroa. Australia, East and North-east coast.

A handsome green species, of small size. Common among ferns and in hot-houses.

H. infrafrenata. Cape York.

H. ingrofrenata. Cape York.

Both species have been lately described by Dr. Günther, F.R.S. The ground colour is probably green.

H. citropus. East coast.

This rare frog inhabits high trees and lays up in moist localities under stones during the cold season. It attains a considerable size, nearly as large as the golden frog. The colour varies; sometimes it is purple-grey with a wash of green on the back; at other times slate-grey or almost green; and young specimens taken during winter from under stones appear quite white. The inner side of the legs is pink. Very few examples are in collections; they occur near Sydney, at Kissing Point, Ryde, at Hunter's Hill, and other localities.

H. Peronii. Australia.

Pérons tree-frog is found principally on the east and north coast; it changes colour from light-grey with pale green spots to almost brown, the green spots still being distinct. The inner skin of the legs and the flanks are bright yellow and black.

This closes the list of Australian frogs.