1 68 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



jumps for several leaps before it disappears." On Apr. 25, 192 1, we repeat 

 that Acris males can jump 3 feet at times on water's surface." On May 17, 

 we compared Acris's leap with our longest stride and wrote "Acris can leap 

 at least my own pace." At another time some adult Acris puzzled me because 

 they leaped into bushes 1-2 to i foot high." We queried as to the possibility 

 of their being Acris one-year-old or Pseudacris but they were neither. On 

 May 21, 192 1, we note "Acris has been on the island hopping around on the 

 ground and into small bushes from the ground and down to ground again. 

 May be some of these have left the ponds." 



Most writers assert that they never climb. On June 28, 1922, at Coat Bet 

 Pond on Chesser Island, where flags were reaching above the water we found 

 six or eight Acris crawled up on flag stems 2-3 inches above the water's sur- 

 face. Sometimes they would leap off. Usually they stayed in place. 



VOICE 



Holbrook (1842, Vol. IV, p. 132) writes that "This is a merry Uttle frog, 

 constantly chirping hke a cricket, even in confinement; . . ." Of some 

 captives he says "Their chirp, at times, was incessant, and sprinkling them 

 with water never failed to render them more lively and noisy." The last 

 two expressions of "lively and noisy" DeKay repeats. 



Charles C. Abbott (1882, p. 707) remarks that "One of the earliest indi- 

 cations of returning spring is the dear, bell-like note of the little batrachian, 

 called by many the "Savannah cricket," known in New Jeresy as the "peeper" 

 and scientifically designated Acris crepitans Baird." . . . "They were in 

 full song, (April 1881) and when not disturbed, made more noise than all 

 the frogs in the neighborhood together. They are quite timid, however, 

 and on being approached were straight way 'mum.' Their vocal efforts 

 seemed to increase until about May ist . . .." 



Of .4cm gryllus crepitans Cope (1889, pp. 328, 329) notes that "The 

 note of this species may be exactly imitated by striking two marbles together 

 first slowly, than faster and faster, for a succession of about twenty or thirty 

 beats. The noise can not be heard at a very great distance. Like Hyla 

 pickeringii this species in confinement can readily be made to produce the 

 note by imitating it, either with the voice or the clattering of two pebbles." 



Hay (1892, p. 462) says "It is a cheerful little creature, and on warm days 

 may constantly be heard executing its noisy song. This resembles closely the 

 striking together rapidly of two pebbles, and, often, when their singing has 

 been interrupted by the passer-by, it may be started again by clicking two 

 stones sharply together." 



H. Garman (1892, p. 342) writes of voice as follows: Its note is a rapidly 

 repeated grating noise, thought to resemble the trilling of a cricket, whence 

 the name cricket-frog." 



Sherwood (1898, p. 18) writes "Very early in the spring and before the 

 appearance of the 'peepers' {Hyla pickeringii), their rattling, broken cry may 

 be hard. It is not sharp like that of Hyla, and would not be noticed unless 

 one were near." 



