Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-07
Tree Frogs.
BY JOHN BURROUGHS

Much more information is wanted about our
common frogs and toads, especially the tree
frogs. ! can find no satisfactory Information
about them in the books, nothing that agrees
with. or helps interpret, my own observations.
For instance, last autumn as late as November
q, and when OF course the ground was liable
10 be shut up by the frost at any time, heard
tie small tfee-frog piping everywhere | went In
the woods. They seemed low down as If on or
near the ground. Do they go 10 the marshes TO
hibernate There, or pass the winter in the ground:
We had had several hard frOStS, but still they
were long distance from the swamp. YeJ it is
n ntp rne s W be ho spring opens tnee
marshes in May, take to the trees. and for the
rest OF the season lead an arb0real life.
caught one last May in some low bushes few
rods from the swamp. He perched upon the
small twfgs like bird and would leap about
among them sure Of his hold every time. |
brought him home and he piped for one night,
or twilight, in a bush in my yard, and then was
gone. Earlier than that, caught one In the
water. and put him upon a tree, but he would
not stay there, but leaped TO the ground.
There can be little doubt that there are two
varieties OF tree-frOgS-the small piper above
referred to, and a much largely one, perhaps the
HsiG cersicolor, with bright yellow thighs. The
former Is emphaticdlly a percher, but the latter
sits close to the bole and larger branches OF the
trees. by means OF the tiattened disks OF the
am half persuaded that contrary to the teach
iIgs Of the books, they hibernate in the trees
instead OF the pond, burying themselves in the
lnoist rotten mass that usually fills the cavities
OF decaying trunks For two years a pair of
them frequented an old appe-tree near my
house, usually sitting at the mouth OF a cavity
that led into large branch, and sometimes
within the cavity itself. Late in November
heard their voices as warm south wind was
blowing. In December so confident was that
the frog had gone into winter quarters in the
cid riee, that came near SeVering some of the
large branches with an axe in my search for
them. But did not look in the right place! On
the first warm day in early April, wind in the
south with promise OF rain, was standing near
the old tree when heard the voice OF my frog.
Ascending the tree, peered into a large cavity
Of the opening was covered with spiders webs,
ard the hole itself was partly filled with dry
leaves. could see no signs of life, and after
waiting for the frog to sound his note again,
ran my arm down into the cavity. and. feeling
some object moist and Clammy, closed my hand
urOn 1t and brought it TO the light, when behold
a large tree frog. / shall not believe that he
had come from the marshes thus early in the
season, but rather that he had wintered in the
moist mud-like mass that filled the heart of the
apple-tree, and which was two feet deep. TIL,
Og had that fresh delicate look and tint as il
he had not before seen the light of spring. I
n tbeaId him there again from that day to this.
Further than that, my observation Is that
these frogs take to the marshes in May, and
doubtless deposit their eggs there then, as about
TINS time they all seem congregated In such
places, and till the air with their peculiar
c-T-r-r-r-r-r. Later in the season, hear them In
the tees about the groves and orchards again.
Nnen the eggs hatch and when the young take
Ia the trees. l have no knowledge. should be
glad to hear through these columns, from other
observers, upon this subJect.-(Science Ne,cs.