Pseudacris nigrita 201 



several frogs calling in a field grown with grasses and sedges and flooded with 

 rain. The notes consisted of a shrill, metallic, staccato trill, frequently re- 

 peated: i-i-i-ik, i-i-i-ik, i-i-i-ik. They were indistinguishable from those of 

 representatives of this genus in the Athabaska region (septentrionalis) and in 

 the District of Columbia (feriarum)." (We are not including notes of our 

 experiences with triseriata, feriarum, etc. forms in New York, Pennsylvania, 

 Canada, Texas and other places nor are Hay's, Dickerson's or other character- 

 izations included. Their notes pertain largely to northern forms and they 

 felt, possibly rightly, that triseriata, feriarum and nigrita were all forms of 

 P. nigrita. There are those who also would put P. septentrionalis in the 

 nigrita group). 



In 1922 we found it June 15 but not calling. On July 15 we took another 

 "near where we thought we heard it when we were after Hyla squirella at 

 night." Then on August 16 near Hilliard one was heard after a very intense 

 rainy spell of miry detours. To me this form which was finally captured 

 "sounded like our New York Pseudacris." To F. Harper it sounded like a 

 metalhc, staccato trill, five notes, ic, ic, ic, ic, ic. All our records in July and 

 August are clearly sporadic croakings long after breeding and after heavy 

 rainfall. 



MATING 



Coloration. (The colors given are from life June 15, 1922, but not from 

 sexed specimens. Specimens, 17 mm. long). 



Back drab gray, smoke gray, darb or grayish olive. From snout down mid- 

 dle of back is one row of more or less connected dusky drab or deep brownish 

 drab spots. Stripe along jaw pale rose purple or pale salmon color or cart- 

 ridge buff with some seafoam green. 



The row of continuous spots down back at half way point becomes two 

 rows of separate spots. On each side is one more row of separate spots. Dark 

 area from snout through eye, back of eye and extending along the side to 

 groin. Cross bars of legs same color as spots of back and light thin bars be- 

 tween the spots of legs like background of the back. Under parts white. Iris 

 black with brownish vinaceous dots. At times iris has considerable of dass 

 green. 



Structural differences. A male (August 16, 1922) of 25 mm. has the 

 throat darker than the rest of under parts or rather more yellowish (in spirits) . 

 On the throat are four longitudinal plaints. Possibly the thumb is somewhat 

 enlarged. 



OVULATION 



Of the form P. nigrita, in its restricted sense, we have no observations 

 except negative evidence. In 192 1 we were within the swamp from April 25 

 onward but it was not until August we found it. In 1922 we were on an island 

 near the eastern edge from June 14 to September i or later and found a few 

 specimens on the mainland, none calling except one in August. The breeding 

 must have been early and most tadpoles transformed before June 15. Deck- 

 ert found them active and calling in winter and early spring. 



