Pseudacris nigrita 199 



limb; fifth toe i. 02-1. 44 in fourth toe; internasal width 1.2 7-1. 13 in first toe; 

 internasal width i. 5-1. 66 in second toe; internasal width 3.27-3.17 in third 

 toe; internasal width 3.45-3.33 in fourth toe; internasal width 3.36-3.0 in 

 fifth toe. 



HABITAT 



Its original describer, LeConte (1855, p. 427), gives it as an inhabitant 

 "in ditches and ponds." Deckert (1915, p. 22) found it "in great numbers 

 about ditches and bayous." In 191 7 Fowler (p. 39) secured it in a hammock. 



In 192 1 (Aug. 5) F. Harper just outside the swamp at Fargo, Georgia, 

 noted that "After considerable search one of the frogs was located in a thick 

 clump of sedge, its body half submerged." 



In 1922 on June 15 near Chesser Schoolhouse in forenoon, (U. S. Geol. 

 Sheet, Folkston sheet) "under chips, small boards and logs found 3 Pseudacris 

 in dry pine barrens, associated with Bufo quercicus. Area beneath boards and 

 cones more or less dry." On July 2, we "went to night hawk nest area 

 {Pseudacris nigrita spot). At 6:00 p. m. heard no P. nigrita. Heard one or 

 two P. ocularis in the grass." 



On July 15, 1928, "on high sandy ridge south of Spanish Creek, Folkston, 

 Georgia. Quercus cateshaei, Quercus cinerea, Gaylussacia dumosa and a very 

 much serrated poison ivy {Rhus). Miles and I were looking at the Rhus 

 carefully and gingerly. He saw something jump amongst it. Thought it a 

 grasshopper but he soon found it to be a frog. It was P. nigrita. The frog 

 was first on a dead twig of a fallen branch. It would leap amongst dead 

 leaves, amongst some grass-like grasses and amongst the ivy." 



On August 16, 1928, "In making a detour on to the Dixie Highway about 

 1,2-1.3 miles south of Hilliard, Florida, we came to the road opposite a wet 

 pine woods. In one little temporary pond in a tussock of grass beside the 

 small pool was a Pseudacris nigrita calling." 



FIRST APPEARANCE 



We suspected its presence long before 1921-1922 but not until 192 1 did 

 we find it. This led us to believe it a very early spring or late winter breeder. 

 Deckert (1914 and 1915) "found (it) in the winter and early spring." Our 

 first record of June 15, 1922, is of no consequence in this category. Students 

 and friends (Dr. A. A. Allen and others) of the author have described from 

 Florida in February and early spring swamp cricket frogs which must be 

 this species though slightly rougher than our specimens (see Cope's C. ver- 

 rucosus). C. S. Brimley received it February 10, 1898, Bay St. Louis, Miss. 

 O. C. VanHyning has secured for me croaking P. nigrita at Gainesville, Fla. in 

 February and early spring. 



GENERAL HABITS 



Metachrosis. Miss Dickerson (1906, p. 157) wrote that the combined 

 {triseriata-feriarum-nigrita) group was "Changeable from a colour so dark 

 that it is nearly black, to flesh colour. When light, the colouration may be 



