Bepfihs and AnipJtibians of Illinois. 351 



above each eye are constant. Beneath pale, throat dusky, or 

 with a few dark specks; yellow on posterior part of belly and 

 ventral side of femora. Upper lip more or less dusky. A dark 

 band extends from the nostril to the anterior upper angle of 

 the eye. A quadrate pale spot lies between the eye and the 

 angle of the mouth, and is bounded posteriorly by a dark spot, 

 which extends from the posterior rim of the eye upward and 

 backward, including the tympanum, toward the base of the 

 anterior leg. Markings of the back brown or blackish, with 

 narrow black margins. Two bands start, one on each side, 

 from the dorsal margins of the eyes and extend toward the 

 middle line and posteriorly; they are sometimes united across 

 the line. The spots of the back are large, of very irregular 

 form, and are not just alike in any two specimens. Sometimes 

 the greater part of the surface is occupied by a brown patch, 

 with processes of the same color passing out from it; often 

 four smaller spots lie two on each side of the middle line; and 

 various other degrees of fusion or isolation of the spots occur. 

 Flanks with small brown spots. Legs and feet dark above, 

 banded with brown or black; pale below. Femur with two 

 dorsal transverse bands, marbled posteriorly with purple or 

 brown, yellow below; tibia also with two dorsal bands; tarsus 

 with one band. 



Length of body, 1.44-2; from tip of snout to axilla, .62-87; 

 femur, .69-92; tibia, .71-94; tarsus and fourth toe together, 

 .94-1.21. 



Common throughout the State. Cook county (Kennicott), 

 Aux Plains River (Ridgway), Yorkville, Rock Island, Gales- 

 burg, Peoria (Brendel), Normal, Anna. 



Besides the variation in the markings of adults, noted 

 above, there is great variation in the ground color, dependent 

 on a number of circumstances. Young specimens taken on 

 the leaves of plants are green, with few or no dark marks. 

 Adults also vary in general color from greenish through shades 

 of gray to almost white, but the color most common is ash-gray. 

 This frog is commonly found on fences, the walls of buildings, 

 the trunks of trees, or on leaves of plants. Its note is often 

 heard in midsummer in the evening and just before rains. The 

 voice is ventriloquous, and this, with the power which the frogs 



