55 



insects, and makes immense leaps to secure its prey and to escape pur- 

 suers. He says that it can be easily domesticated, and takes its food 

 readily from the hand. He kept several of them for months in a glass 

 globe on a few sprigs of purslane, feeding them occasionally with flies ; 

 their chirp was at times incessant, and sprinkling them with water never 

 failed to render them more lively and noisy. 



Dr. C. C. Abbott (S3, xvi, 707) has studied the habits of this species 

 in New Jersey. He found them extremely abundant along ditches 

 through meadows in the early spring, and very noisy. The eggs were 

 deposited in little masses about May 1, and attached to blades of coarse 

 grass. After the eggs were laid the number of frogs rapidly diminished, 

 and by June 10 all were gone. Dr. Abbott believes that all die, and 

 that those which appear later come from the transformation of the tad- 

 poles. This occurs late in August. The frogs seem to be moderately 

 abundant about the middle of September, but they are then found along 

 rapidly flowing brooks. He also thinks that the frogs do not eat during 

 the autumn, while in the early spring they are extremely voracious. 



In this region I have found them during the whole summer, notably in 

 August before the tadpoles of the year have transformed. 



Genus HYLA, Laurenti. 



Hyla, Laurenti, 1768, 109, S2; Boulenger, 1882, ;27, 337 ; Cope, 1889, 

 51, 349. 



Fingers wholly, partially, or not at all webbed. Toes more or less 

 webbed. The digits all provided with disks of larger or smaller size. 

 Vomerine teeth present. Tongue entire or notched behind. Tympanum 

 usually distinct, sometimes hidden. Sacral vertebrae, with its transverse 

 processes more or less expanded. 



The essential difference between this genus and Acris lies in the amount 

 of expansion of the sacral diapophysis. 



A large and widely distributed genus. North America possesses nine 

 of the species. Of these seven occur in the Eastern United States. 



Key to the E. U. S. Species of Ryla. 



Finger. s one-third or one-fourth webbed. 



Gray, olive, or green above ; a V-like mark between eyes and a large,. 



dark blotch on the back. Thighs yellow inside, and with dark 



mottling. Form stout. versicolor, p. 56. 



Brownish or green above, without spots. A white line on upper lip 



and along the sides. Thighs not mottled or spotted behind. 



Form slender. earolinensis, Appendix. 



