76 HYLODESGRYLLUS. 



axilla. The chin and throat are yellowish-white. The body is elongated, slender, 

 and dusky above, with a vertebral line of bright green, or sometimes reddish- 

 brown, which bifurcates at the occiput and runs to the superior part of the orbits 

 of the eyes. On each side of this vertebral line are two or three large oblong 

 spots, with white margins. The flanks are grey. The thorax and abdomen are 

 silvery-white. 



The anterior extremities are small and delicate, dusky above, with a black 

 blotch near the elbow; beneath they are clouded white; there are four fingers, 

 distinct, very delicate, and slightly swelling at the extremities. The posterior 

 extremities are very long, dusky above, and barred with black; the lower surface 

 is dirty flesh colour; there are five toes, long, and fully webbed. 



Dimensions. Length, IJ inches; of thigh, 7 lines; of leg, 8 lines; of tarsus and 

 toes, 1 inch 1 line. 



Habits. This is a merry little frog, constantly chirping like a cricket, even in 

 confinement; it frequents the borders of stagnant pools, and is often found on the 

 leaves of aquatic plants, and rarely on the branches of such low shrubs as overhang 

 or dip in the water. It feeds on various kinds of insects, and makes immense 

 leaps to secure its prey, or to escape its pursuers. It can easily be domesticated, 

 and takes its food readily from the hand; I have kept several for months in a 

 glass globe on a few sprigs of purslain, (portulacca oleracea.) Their chirp, at 

 times, was incessant, and sprinkling them with water never failed to render them 

 more lively and noisy. 



Geographical Distribution. The Hylodes gryllus is found on the Atlantic 

 coast from latitude 43° to the Gulf of Mexico, and is very abundant in Carolina 

 and Georgia; but as yet I have no evidence of its existence west of the Alleghany 

 mountains. 



General Remarks. The first notice of this animal is found in Bartram's 



