164 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



GENERAL HABITS 



Metachrosis {variations in the individual). 



LeConte (1855, p. 427) in describing the extreme variety "in color and in 

 other marks" of Acris crepitans writes: "Whether all the variations above 

 mentioned are permanent in the individuals where they have been observed 

 or depend upon the will of the animal, I have not been able to determine 

 precisely. In many instances, however, they are the voluntary changes which 

 for some unknown reason this creature chooses to make in its appearance." 



Cope (1889, p. 325) says that "In its habits the Acris grijllus is a lover of 

 the muddy borders of the water, into which it leaps when alarmed. As it 

 does not conceal itself among vegetation, like the Hyla pickeringii, it is much 

 more easily caught than that species, and is more common in museums, 

 though not less abundant. As the structure of the feet indicate, it is a good 

 swimmer, and its powers of leaping are remarkable." 



Abbott (1882, pp. 709, 710) gave close attention to the subject of their 

 color and its changeableness. "While there are certain peculiarities of color 

 that are persistent and characteristic of the species, these become of little 

 prominence at times, so very great is the difference in the entire coloration of 

 the animal. Furthermore, they change their hues with great rapidity, and 

 during the course of a few moments will pass from an ashy paleness or clay 

 color to an intense black, with the light dorsal stripe scarcely visible, or else 

 either to a glowing red or brilliant metallic green. So very beautiful are these 

 changes, and so different will any half dozen prove to be, that it is difficult 

 to realize that the many before you are one and the same species. Of a series 

 of six which I have long kept in confinement (October 20th to January 29th) 

 in a bottle, one specimen was taken from a ledge of pale yellow clay. The 

 "peeper" was of the same color, the post-orbital dark spot and light dorsal 

 line being scarcely discernible. The uniform yellow tint, however, was re- 

 lieved by minute round points of brilliant bronze. This individual, unlike its 

 companions, did not alter in color for several weeks. The others were very 

 changeable, and particularly so when exposed to direct sun-light. While I 

 noted several instances to the contrary my impression is that usually the colors 

 pale in direct sun-light, and deepen when the animals are in deep shade. This 

 certainly is true of those I have in confinement, and agrees with my experience 

 in searching for them during the past autumn. One fact with reference to the 

 subject of their color is not in accordance, perhaps, with the above, but should 

 not go unrecorded. The six individuals which I have in a bottle will, at times, 

 present very different tints, although all are subjected to like surroundings. 

 Of the six, two or three would be very dark, the others pale yellow. With 

 some the dark triangular spot between the eyes would be very distinct, in the 

 case of the others it could not be detected even in outline. It must be remem- 

 bered, however, that these individuals were kept in most unnatural conditions, 

 and had, at the time of this writing, been without food for one hundred days 

 and at the same time remained as active as squirrels. 



This species (Cope, 1889, p. 325) possesses the power of metachrosis or 

 color changes in a high degree. The dorsal stripe and border of the interocular 



