Plate Number: II 71

Rana Viridis Arborea: The Green Tree Frog

This Frog was of a bright grass Green, with two light yellow Lines extending the Length of its Body on both Sides; The Eyes were black and large, with a yellow Circle round them; but what is most remarkable in this Frog are its Feet, which, as in all the other Kinds of Frogs, had four Toes on each of the fore Feet, and five on the hind Feet; but of a different Structure from other Frogs, they being round, fleshy, and concave, somewhat like the Mouth of a Leech. They most commonly are found adhering to the under Sides of green Leaves, which they seem to do for their Security, to conceal themselves from their rapacious Enemies, as Birds, Snakes, &c. which they could not do without this extraordinary Structure of their Toes, by which they cleave to the smoothest Leaf by Suction: and if they are held at four Yards Distance from a reclining Looking-Glass, will at one Leap stick fast to it. They are numerous in Virginia and Carolina, frequenting both herbacious Plants, and the loftiest Trees. They appear seldom in the Day, but at Night are very active and noisy, leaping from Spray to Spray, on the tallest Trees, catching Fire Flies and other Insects, incessantly chirping chit chit chit chit.

Arum Americanum, Betae folio: The Scunk Weed

This Plant before the Leaves appeared, arrived at its full Size, as is here exhibited, consisting of three succulent, monopetalous, hollow Flowers, with short Stems, disclosing, as within an Nitch, its Pointel, of an oval Form, having its Superficies impressed with chequered Lines: Before the Leaves open, they appear pale Green, but in a short Time become spotted with Green and Purple blended together: At the Decay of the Flowers the Leaves appear of the Size here exhibited, and usually four or five in Number.

The introduction of this most curious Plant with innumerable others, is owing to the indefatigable Attachment of Mr. Collinson, who in the Year 1735, received it from Pensilvania, and in the Spring following it displayed itself in this Manner at Peckham.

As the Flowers of this Plant were engraven before I had an Opportunity of seeing the Leaves, I was obliged to introduce a Leaf in the Manner as in the Plate.