The Cricket Frog 



gradually become bright green lines. As the brown of the back- 

 ground lightens, it seems to get an admixture of green not seen 

 unless the frog is looked at closely. The green becomes more 

 prominent, seeming to spread outward from the vivid green of 

 the lines bounding the pattern of spots and bars, until the whole 

 upper surface of the frog is green. The dark colour pattern be- 

 comes lighter and lighter, the green continues to lighten until the 

 frog is most beautiful in a dress of light yellow green with spots 

 of gold or fawn colour. Within a few minutes more, the spots 

 have wholly disappeared leaving the frog plain green. 



At other times the change from dark to light shows no green 

 colour, but warm tones of brown instead. In this case the frog 

 becomes a delicate unspotted fawn colour as the last stage in the 

 series. Or the change may be effected displaying only soft shades 

 of grey. In all dresses, the frog is an unusually attractive one in 

 its colouration. In the change from dark to light, or the reverse, 

 the ear and eye respond also to the given stimuli. The spot under 

 the eye shows a considerable range of colouring; it may be white, 

 or some shade of yellow or green. When light-coloured, the frog 

 displays metallic reflections, especially on the forearms and tibiae. 

 In this light dress, all spots and marks are obliterated, except the 

 heavy black blotch over the arm, the white spots under the eye 

 and around the base of the arm, and a few black spots or specks 

 on the sides. These seem to be permanent parts of the colour 

 pattern. 



THE CRICKET FROG 

 Acris gryllus Le Conte. 1 



IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS 



Colour: Variable and changeable. Usually some shade of 

 brown, with a triangular dark mark between the eyes, a lighter 

 band of colour in the midline of the back, and three obliquely- 



1 Cope says that there are two subspecies: A . g. gryllus, found from North Carolina to Florida, 

 and A. g. crepitans, found north of this as far as New York. The two subspecies differ but slightly 

 and the division is of doubtful validity. 



" Hinder foot less tarsus less than half the length of the head and body; dermal tubercles larger; 

 posterior femoral stripes less distinct." (.4. g. crepitans.) 



" Hinder foot less tarsus longer than half head and body; dermal tubercles smaller; femoral 

 stripes very distinct." (A. g. gryllus.) 



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