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Distribution.
It seems almost certain that these frogs first made their appearance at Greymouth, whence they have extended inland and south.
From Greymouth they have spread either naturally or artificially up the Grey River for at least twenty-four miles to Ahaura, and very likely further, but so far all the places where I have found them to be present are on the south bank of the river, and none on the north, though it is not at all unlikely that they are on the opposite bank also.
At Brunnerton, eight miles from Greymouth along the river, they are plentiful, and seem to be increasing. No other kinds of frogs are said to be found there.
At Stillwater, nine miles from Greymouth and a mile past
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Brunnerton, according to Mr. Mallock there are both the green and brown kinds present, though the latter are more numerous and are increasing.
At Ahaura, twenty-four miles up the river, only the brown frogs are present, and these appear to be increasing.
At the centre of their dispersion, Greymouth, they are said to exist in very large numbers, and seem to be increasing.
The only other place where I have them recorded is Hokitika, twenty-two miles south of Greymouth, and there is no reference to them being found in between these towns, so that it is very unlikely that they travelled overland—indeed, rumour says that they were brought by an unknown person from Greymouth.
At Hokitika Hyla ewingii is now very scarce, if not quite extinct. Mr. James King, of Hokitika, says that ten years ago the big green frog (I suppose Hyla aurea) was introduced, and perhaps this has something to do with the decrease of the brown ones. From what I have seen of the Hyla aurea it would find the small brown frog very eatable, and if it does not stop at eating its own kind there is very little chance of it sparing the small strangers. It is evident that they have not extended in any direction from Hokitika, for I have no place outside of that town where they are known to be present.