Acris gryllus 173 



Considering 16 choruses from April 24- July 18, 192 1, we have for nearby 

 station records of maxima 8i°-95° with exception of two 73°, usual range 

 8i°-88°, average 81°, mode 86°, for the day before; and minima from 5o°-73° 

 (one to 46°), average 60°; for day of record, maxima of 81 "-95°, average 

 89°, minima of So°-73°, average 69°. Heavy rains preceded about half of 

 the choruses. In last of April temperatures 84°-87° maxima and 5o°-62° 

 minima obtained the day of the records. In the first half of May maxima 

 8i°-9o°, minima 53°-67° prevailed. In the choruses of May 26 and 27 

 maxima 93°-9S°, minima 65°-7o° prevailed. In July 11-18 maxima 87^-94° 

 obtained, minima 68°-73°. Minima thus mount from 5o°-62°, 53°-67°, 

 65°-7o°, 68°-73° in mid July. The mid July choruses were started by rains 

 of two inches or more. 



The actual records of air temperatures taken by us in 192 1 when we heard 

 Acris were about 10 instances from April 30- July 29. They range thus: 

 58°, 72°, 66° or 67°, 71°, 80°, 74°, 70°, 74°, 76°, 80°, 73°. In June and July 

 each of these were preceded or accompanied by rain, clouds, storms, or 

 threat of lowery weather. These average about 72°. 



In 1922 on Chesser Island from June 14-22 we heard great choruses on 

 the island and on the prairies and later in the later part of June. No minimum 

 during our waking hours was below 7i°-73°. Many days went up to 90° or 

 higher, and much rain or cloudy weather was on. It seems that in mid summer 

 rain is a potent factor. They will peep at 56° or lower. Somehow 65°-7o° 

 seems to be a preferable temperature for cheerful Acris. When minima get 

 to 65° or 70° or higher and maxima reach 80° or 85° on into the 90^'s with 

 some rain we have optimum conditions for great choruses. 



MATING 



Male {From life, June 25, 1921). Stripe down back and around triangle 

 dark olive buff, throat raw sienna. All over the throat collections of dark 

 dots which sometimes arrange in a reticulate fashion. Iris pale vinaceous 

 drab on black. Light orange yellow rim around the pupil. 



On one day, Apr. 23, I saw black, dark brown, reddish brown, light brown, 

 green and gray specimens of Acris. 



Female {From life, June 25, 1921). Of a mated pair. Clove brown above. 

 Triangular spot between eye obscured by this dark color. Throat, breast and 

 belly pale olive buff. More or less on under side of fore legs same color and so 

 the spot below eye and along the upper and lower jaws, also the line from 

 eye to arm insertion. Area back of arm insertion palHd vinaceous drab. 

 Oblique bar on side clove brown with pale olive buff and oHve ocher: Under 

 side of hind legs clear with a Httle pigment. Brown long stripe on rear of 

 femur snuff brown or dresden brown with clear unpigmented stripe below and 

 above. Also another such brown stripe above the upper clear area. From 

 vent around bases of hind legs to venter are pale oHve buff papillae. 



Structural differences. H. Garman (1892, p. 341) is one of the first to note 

 that "The first finger of the male (is) but slightly swollen." 



