THE SOUTHERN CRICKET FROG. 157 



itans in the north, which have been described by Dr. 

 O. P. Hay as follows : 



"The cricket frog is not thoroughly aquatic, but 

 delights to spend its time amid the vegetation about 

 the border of the water. When frightened it will 

 leap into the water, but it often appears to become 

 alarmed at its rashness and hastens to reach the land 

 again. When followed up, however, it will go to the 

 bottom and seek to conceal itself for a while. Though 

 belonging to the 'tree frogs/ it never ascends trees, 

 and probably climbs only the shorter grasses and 

 water plants. It is a cheerful little creature, and on 

 warm days may constantly be heard executing its 

 noisy song. This resembles closely the striking to- 

 gether rapidly of two pebbles, and often, when their 

 singing has been interrupted by the passer-by, it may 

 be started again by clicking two stones sharply to- 

 gether."* 



Holbrook has written of the southern form, A. 

 gryllus: "This is a merry little frog, constantly 

 chirping like a cricket, even in confinement; it fre- 

 quents the borders of stagnant pools, and is often 

 found on the leaves of aquatic plants, and rarely on 

 the branches of such low shrubs as overhang or dip 

 in the water. It feeds on various kinds of insects, 

 and makes immense leaps to secure its prey, or to 

 escape its pursuers. It can easily be domesticated, 

 and takes its food readily from the hand ; I have kept 



* Batrachians and Reptiles of Indiana, 1891, p. 462. 



