Strecker — Reptiles and Batraehians of Texas. 81 



pits. In damp weather I have found a few specimens around the electric 

 lights in company with Bufo compaclilis and Bufo americanus. In life 

 the ground color in different examples of this species varies from yellow- 

 green to dark green. Most of the male specimens are of the cross-barred 

 type. 



Lithodytes latrans Cope. 



ROBBER FROG; BARKING FROG. 



In 1899 I captured one of these curious little frogs. I found it hopping 

 along a gutter an hour or two after a heavy shower. This species is said 

 to inhabit rocky places. On one occasion while I was working the lime- 

 stone bluff's along Flat Rock Creek I saw two frogs that I am satisfied 

 were of this species, but they escaped by junking into a deep crevice, and 

 I was without the necessary implements to get them out. The ground 

 color of the upper surface, in my specimen, was light green. 



Bufo lentoginosus americanus LeConte. 



AMERICAN TOAD, 



Our common toads are a puzzling lot. Some seem to lie typical ameri- 

 canus, others are near woodhousei , while a third type, represented by a 

 few light-colored specimens, show many characteristics of cognatus. I 

 lump them all under the same head at present, intending later on to make 

 a more critical examination of our extensive series of toads of this species. 



Bufo valliceps Wiegmann. 



NEBULOUS TOAD. 

 This interesting and peculiar species is rather common but less so than 

 specimens of the americanus type. I capture quite a number around elec- 

 tric lights and have no difficulty in selecting them from among the numer- 

 ous specimens of other species, on account of their alert manner and the 

 peculiar upright position they assume when in repose. At some points 

 along the rocky banks of some of the small streams tributary to the 

 Bosque River I have found these toads in considerable numbers. Here 

 they inhabit caves and fissures in the soft shaly stone, and feed largely on 

 the long-legged monstrosities commonly known as " grand-daddies." 



Bufo debilis Wiegmann. 



GREEN TOAD. 



The habits of this interesting little species resemble those of Scaphiopus 

 couchii in many respects. They are night-prowlers, seldom moving around 

 until after dark, then coming forth from their burrows under the roots of 

 mesquite trees on the grassy flats, in quest of their food. In life the ground 

 color of the upper surface in this species varies from light to dark-green, 

 while the underparts are soiled yellowish white. The throat pouch, in the 

 male, is blackish. In this locality I have only collected four or five speci- 

 mens outside of the mesquite flats. Like the spade-foot, they breed in 

 temporary pools, and after a heavy rain their presence can soon be detected 

 by their peculiar, long-drawn, bird-like notes. I collected twenty-four 

 pairs in copula on the banks of one small ditch. 



