Strecher — Notes on Life History of Scaphiopus couchii Baird. 203 



The coloration is now essentially that of Example B (see the 

 descriptions of young specimens), and it is probably several 

 weeks before they assume that of the adult. The young speci- 

 mens described as Examples E to H were collected in July, 

 1898, and by a reference to my notes I find that Scaphiopus 

 were breeding in May of that year. After making a proper 

 allowance for the time necessary for them to go through their 

 transformation we can lie reasonably certain that these speci- 

 mens were about four or five weeks old. 



The most of the above observations were made at a series of 

 temporary ponds located on the flats west of Waco. They were 

 commenced during a spell of rainy weather lasting for several 

 days, and all of the eggs were not deposited on the same night. 

 This will account for the difference in the time of hatching. 



Voire. — The cry of the male is a loud, resonant " ye-6w ' 

 repeated at intervals; that of the female, a short, grunting 

 " ow " uttered several times with shorter intermissions. The 

 vocal vesicle of the male is unusually large, expanding at the 

 throat, sides and breast. Fully distended it is about three times 

 the size of the head, and as seen rising and falling on a level 

 with the surface of the water, when the animal utters its cry, it 

 presents the appearance of a small silvery-white bladder. 



The voice of this species is much louder than that of any of 

 our other toads and frogs, and many persons claim that it is 

 almost impossible for them to sleep while the animals are howl- 

 ing in an adjoining lot. In confinement the males utter low, 

 plaintive cries quite different from their usual loud notes. 



Food. — The stomachs of several examples collected near elec- 

 tric lights contained the remains of various species of beetles, 

 flies and moths. Specimens thus captured are never found out 

 in the open, exposed to the full glare of the light, but are 

 usually discovered lurking under cover of grass and weeds. It 

 would seem as though they were lying in wait for the insects 

 that succeed in escaping the other speeies of toads which usually 

 congregate in such places. A florist who has placed a number 

 of Scaphiopus in his flower pit informs me that their diet con- 

 sists largely of earthworms. 



General Notes. — This species is not as retiring as its eastern 

 relative, Scaphiopus holbrookii. In fact its general habits show 

 a resemblance to those of the night-prowling toads such as Bufo 

 debilis Girard and B. eompactilis Wieg. 



