53 



Genus ACKIS, Dum. & Bib 



J.cn8, Dumeril & Bibron, 1841, 74, viii, 506; Boulenger, 1882, 21, 

 336 ; Cope, 1889, 51, 324. 



Fingers free ; toes fully webbed, the tips of the digits with small disks. 

 Vomerine teeth present. Tongue with a notch behind. Tympanum 

 indistinct. Sacral process little expanded.* Closely allied to Sxjla. 



This genus contains but a single species, and this is abundant every- 

 where with us. 



Acris gryllus, (LeConte). 



Cricket Frog. 



Rana gryllus, LeConte, 1825, 62, i, 282; Acris gryllus, Dum. & Bib., 

 74, 507 ; Boulenger, 1882, 27, 336 ; Cope, 1889, 51, 324, with figures ; 

 Sylodes gryllus, Holbrook, 1842, 54, iv. 131, pi. 33. 



Variety crepitans. 



Acris crepitans, Baird, 1855, 1, 59; Boulenger, 1. c. ; Cope, 1. c, 326, 

 with figures. 



Form frog-like. Length of head, measured to hinder edge of tym- 

 panic disk, in the length of body to vent three times. Snout pointed, 

 its length in length of body six times ; projecting beyond the lower lip. 

 Vomerine teeth in two patches between the choanse. Tongue broad, 

 ovate, with or without a notch behind. Males with a large gular sac, 

 which opens beneath the tongue. Tympanic disk seen with difiiculty» 

 Skin of the back smooth, or with small or' large tubercles. Belly and 

 thighs granulated ; throat smooth. Legs long, the heel passing near to 

 or beyond the snout. Two large metatarsal tubercles. Subarticular 

 tubercles well developed. Fingers without web ; toes webbed to near 

 the tips. 



Color variable and subject to rapid changes. Usually the upper sur- 

 face is ashy-gray or brown. Occasionally green predominates, or there 

 is considerable of reddish, especially along the middle of the back. 

 Between the eyes there is a triangular spot of dusky, bordered with 

 green in life. The middle line is usually pale. The upper lip is spot- 

 ted with black. There is a blotch of dusky from the eye to the shoulder, 

 and a stripe of the same above and behind the fore legs. Legs cross- 

 barred Color below, white ; under jaw often dusky. The length of 

 large specimens is a little over one inch. 



'■'FooT-NOTK.— This character may easily be observed by making a transverse incision in 

 the skin of the back at the point where the iliac bones are connected with the vertebral 

 column; that is, where the frog's back bends abruptly. The transverse process cleaned 

 of tissue, may then be compared with the same structure in the Common Tree-frog, Hyla 

 versicolor. 



