FROGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1921, Page 4

FROGS.

(By J. Drummond F.L.8., F.Z.S., in Lyttelton Times.) Three small brown frogs, sent by a resident of Greymouth, are members of an Australian species introduced into New Zealand. They have not been noted in any part of New Zealand except the West Coast, but- they seem to be fairly plentiful near Greymouth They were introduced, apparently, intentionally in order to check insect pests in a frogless district. There is no absolute record of their introduction, but there seems to be a general oinion amongst residents of Greymouth that the first specimens of flu* species wore taken to the town by Mi W Perkins, a barrister, who took them from Tasmania in a glass bottle in 1875. He liberated them in n drain in Alexander Street. The 'species increased there, and has spread t-o Bmnnerson, Stillwater, Ahaura, and other centres It seems to have travelled ns far south as Hokitika, but is rare in that, town. Unlike the large green, frog, also an Australian, that has spread to almost every* district in New Zealand the brown frog is a climber. On tbo West Coast it has been seen crawling over blackberry bushes and on the s-tenis of croopetrs. Fifteen years ago forty live mem liens of the species were sent from GreymneH* Christchurch. Some, of them were liberated in this city, but nothing further lias been heard of them. In Australia these frogs are usually seen on the. ground or under logs or stones, hut they bare been seen also on the leaves of small euealypts, a few feet from Hi ground. As the green frog is not a climber, and as New Zealand’s own little frogs are very rare and very retiring, some advantage would result from encouraging the brown frogs to live in other parts of the Dominion, as they would attack insect pests on trees.

They have a peculiar cry. quite different from the hoarse croak of tin* green frog and more like a whistle. Tn Greymouth they are known sometimes as Ringing frogs. The faculty for changing colour, which it is well known is possessed by frogs is highly developed in these Australian frogs. They pass from an absolute white to silver-grey, pale brown and chocolate. If one is partly buried in the earth, the part of its body under the surface will he dark reddish brown, but the part exposed to the light, although it may be only a small part will bo much lighter in

colour. In Australia they are known popularly as brown tree-frogs. The green frog is known there as the golden bell-frog, but its common colour is brilliant pea-green.