g FAMILIAR LIFE IN FIELD AND FOREST. 



from tlie Ryla ; there are no distinct pads on the 

 toes,* and consequently he seldom if ever ascends 

 trees or bushes. His general color is variable. With 

 the tree toad {Ilyla, versicoloi') he possesses a cer- 

 tain power of color change, or metachrosis, and 

 while he may be dull green in an environment of 

 green leaves, among dead ones he is quite as like- 

 ly to be brown. There is a very characteristic 

 blackish, triangular patch between the eyes, the 

 apex of which is directed backward. This is 

 margined by a light color, sometimes greenish, 

 sometimes rusty, and as often dull white. This 

 marginal color of the triangle is continued in a 

 dorsal stripe to the end of the body. The ex- 

 treme northeasterly limit of this frog is JS^ew Haven, 

 Conn. 



But there are two varieties of this Acris, differ- 

 ing slightly in form and appearance from the species 

 proper ; one of northern distribution is called Acris 

 gryllus crepitans, and another of southern distribu- 

 tion (from North Carolina to Florida and Louisiana) 

 is called Acris gryllus gryllus. With the latter we 

 have nothing to do, as it is south of our range ; but 

 the former is likely to engage our attention in the 



* These are furnished, however, with very slightly enlarged 

 disks. 



