Hurler — Herpetology of Missouri. IQl 



1. Skin of back nearly smooth; hind foot from metatarsal tubercles 

 longer than half the length of head and body. A. gryllus. 



2. Skin of back considerably tuberculated. Hind foot, from meta- 

 tarsal tubercles, shorter than half the length of head and body. 



A. crepitans. 



3. Head and back covered with very large warts. Markings indis- 

 tinct. Form toad-like. A. bufonia. 



Color. — Body above brownish or cinereous. Occasionally green pre- 

 dominates, or there is considerable reddish, especially along the middle 

 of the back. A triangular dark spot between the eyes; a white line 

 from the orbit to the arm; two or three large oblique dark patches, 

 often margined with white, on the sides. These markings are some- 

 times wanting. Beneath white, often varied with dusky. Chin and 

 throat tinged with yellowish. Inner and hind parts of thighs reticu- 

 late. (A. gryllus.) Also a stripe of dusky color above and behind the 

 fore legs. Legs cross-barred. 



Habitat. — This species extends from New York to Flor- 

 ida, and west to Nebraska and Texas. The variety gryllus 

 is, for the most part, southern in its range, while crepitans 

 is more northern. In the State of Missouri it is found 

 everywhere in suitable localities. The variety gryllus is 

 reported by the late Dr. E. D. Cope in his Batrachians of 

 North America as having been found by R. Kennicott in 

 New Madrid Co., where he collected six specimens which 

 he sent to the National Museum, where they are still kept 

 under the number 3,560. I visited Dunklin Co., which is 

 south of New Madrid Co., but there found only the variety 

 crepitans. 



Habits.. — The most conspicuously active of our small 

 tree-frogs is the Cricket Frog, a tree frog with wholly ter- 

 restrial habits. When it is frightened, it jumps high and 

 far, repeating these leaps in remarkably rapid succession. 

 It catches its insect food by leaping after moving insects 

 it has sighted at a distance. Unlike the greater number 

 of tree frogs, it cannot climb shrubs and trees, as the 

 fingers and toes are too small. The Cricket Frog remains 

 on the ground throughout the year, preferably along the 

 muddy margins of pools and rivers. It is diurnal in its 

 habits. If it is disturbed when near the water, it makes 



