Pseudacris ocularis 225 



AUTUMNAL APPEARANCE 



We know nothing of the activities of this species beyond the first of 

 September. Doubtless it is active most of the year except for mid-winter. 



AFFINITIES 



Holbrook remarks that Hylodes ocularis "is closely allied to Hylodes 

 gryllus in its habits, choosing the same damp places for its abode, — and like 

 Hylodes gryllus, too, it has the power of adhering to smooth surfaces, though 

 not so perfectly so as the Hylae.'" It is quite arboreal at times on boles of 

 trees, etc., far more arboreal than Acris. 



Holbrook (1843, p. 38) remarks: "I have chosen the specific name ocularis 

 for this animal, from the black spot along the eye; and this has been done the 

 more willingly, as it is possible this animal may in the end prove to be the 

 Hijla ocularis of Bosc and Daudin, which LeConte thinks, however, is most 

 probably only a variety of the Hyla squirella; and yet, as this animal is not 

 infrequently found on low bushes, or leaps upon them when pursued, it is not 

 possible that Bosc might have supposed it to be a real Hyla. Should it then 

 turn out to be the Hyla ocularis of Bosc, an additional synonym will be saved; 

 but if it is an undescribed animal, which I beheve, then the demonination 

 Hylodes ocularis is well enough, as it belongs to another genus." 



LeConte (1855, p. 429) places it in Hyla ocularis following Hyla pickeringii 

 in his account. He credits it to Daudin. "From the small size of this and the 

 preceding species, {Hyla pickeringii) the web between the third and fourth 

 toes is not very perceptible." LeConte in this article recognizes ocularis as of 

 Hyla, ornata and nigrita as of Chorophilus.. A year before he recognized 

 Chorophilus with nigritus, Helocaetes with feriarum, triseriata and clarkii. 



In some ways were it not for the tadpole coloration, the single eggs, self 

 color and some structural characters one might be led to consider P. ocularis 

 apart from the other Pseudacris which are of larger size, more spotted backs 

 and with egg masses. Pseudacris septentrionalis, P. triseriata, P. nigrita, P. 

 feriarum generally so far as known and from my own experience tend toward 

 the laying of egg masses rather than single eggs. Our life history material on 

 Pseudacris ornata is too fragmentary for positive assertion on this point. 



Miss M. C. Dickerson (1906, p. 157) writes: "The Chorophilus material is 

 confusing and insufficient to settle any problems. . . . However, the whole 

 subject is in need of investigation and is open to revision." In 1923, Noble, her 

 successor, wrote on the Generic and Genetic Relations of Pseudacris, The 

 Swamp Cricket Frogs "basing his conclusions largely on a detailed considera- 

 tion of Pseudacris ocularis. His conclusions are that "The species of Pseud- 

 acris must be referred to Hyla, although all species are distinguishable from 

 American Hylas on external characters." 



In egg characters it seems to fall nearer Hyla crucifer in size of eggs, 

 envelopes and vitelli where LeConte apparently placed it in Hyla. In other 

 ways it is not far removed from Acris gryllus with which Holbrook placed it 

 as of Hylodes. Possibly Acris lays masses at times (single usually) like other 

 Pseudacris species. 



