Acris gryllus 165 



spot may be bright green, dirty white, or bright rusty; and the dorsal tubercles 

 vary in color in the same way. The general tint varies from bright green to 

 dull slate color. Under A. g. crepitans he remarks (p. 328) "In connection 

 with metachrosis in this species I observed in a specimen lately dead that on 

 the end of the muzzle, palpebrae, canthus rostralis, outer Hne of humerus, 

 ends of sacral dispaphyses, where the derm was in a state of tension, that it 

 assumed a bright green hue." 



Dernehl (1902, p. 81) in writing "Color changes" says "The rapid color 

 changes attributed to these frogs by various authors as Dr. Hay, Cope and 

 LeConte were not observed in individuals which we had in confinement in the 

 laboratory for some time, the only noticeable change being a fading or in- 

 crease of the ground color, the bands of green or red remaining permanent." 



Ditmars (1905, p. 192) notes "This species is subject to rapid and marked 

 color changes under the influence of varying temperature and the mood of the 

 individual. These changes affect the general color of the body and the bright 

 band down the back." 



Dickerson (1906, pp. 155, 156) holds that "the dark shades are taken on 

 when the frogs are in dark situations and especially when the darkness is 

 combined with a low temperature and moisture; the lighter coloration is 

 assumed under the influences of bright light, high temperature and dryness." 



Variations in color. LeConte (1825) in his original description called its 

 "colour various." In 1826 he repeats the same. 



Almost every author like Boulenger (1882, p. 336) holds its "Coloration 

 very variable." 



Cope (1889, pp. 324-331) gives the upper parts as mainly brown or gray 

 with diverse dorsal stripes. H. Carman (1892, p. 342) finds the "Size and 

 color are extremely variable. In most specimens from central and northern 

 Illinois, the markings are all very obscure, and often the triangular spot be- 

 tween the eyes is so indistinct as to require close looking to detect it. Others 

 of the marks described above may even be wanting, and in but few specimens 

 are all the marks plainly visible. The greenish and reddish forms seem to be 

 more abundant in southern Illinois. The skin of the more northern individuals 

 is rougher, the warts often being elongate and ranged so as to form short 

 ridges." 



In another extreme of its range in south Florida, Loennberg (1895, p. 

 389) reports "All my specimens show the triangular black spot on the head. 

 The median dorsal stripe is always reddish brown, and I have never seen it 

 green. The posterior femoral stripes are very conspicuous. The light stripe 

 from the orbit to the axilla is constant, but the other blotches are not always 

 light bordered." 



In 1902 (p. 128) W. P. Hay calls its "color variable and changeable." So 

 also Dernehl (1902, p. 80) finds "The color of this species is extremely variable, 

 usually the upper surface has a ground color of ashy gray with a faint greenish 

 hue or brown. Dickerson (1906, p. 156) gives green, light red brown, clay 

 colour, almost black, as dorsal colors. 



