Gastrophryne carolinensis 459 



some extent also, at the will of the animal. Old examples are darker, and 

 the markings are in them more obscure. The characteristic markings are 

 consequently more apparent on medium sized specimens because of the 

 paler color and consequent greater contrast between it and the dark marks. 

 Examined with a lens, the skin of the body is seen to be sprinkled with minute 

 dark specks, the closer aggregations of which form the dark spots, while their 

 absence in numerous small irregular areas on the abdomens of the younger 

 examples produces a fine mottling of the under side. Occasionally the pale 

 bands on the sides of the back are so nearly the shade of the ground color as 

 not to be apparent; and they may be rendered still more obscure by the 

 absence of the dark band which generally bounds them above. A very young 

 specimen before me has a series of small dark spots along the middle of the 

 back. The feet are more or less spotted with dark above. A black spot over 

 the vent seems to be constant." 



Strecker (1909, p. 117) notes that upper surfaces may be black, brown or 

 gray and under surfaces gray or light brown, speckled with white or light 

 yellow. 



General habits: It is so secretive its habits have been little discussed and 

 most of these pertain to its voice. H. Garman (1892, p. 333) held that "Of the 

 habits but little can be written at present." Deckert (19 14, No. 9, p. i) 

 holds "the 'Narrow-mouth Toad' is a common Batrachian here (Jackson- 

 ville) but owing to its nocturnal habits, it is not often seen." 



This is subterranean species. Its appearance alone indicates it. Never 

 during the day would one find it if he did not hear it bleat during a rain 

 storm or cloudy weather or if he did not unearth it from beneath cover. 

 Often in tearing decaying logs to pieces one finds them within the logs or 

 merely beneath them. Some boys found some under some hay cocks. Rarely 

 during showers one may chance on them by day. Even by day e.g., July 3, 

 192 1, one marvels at the numbers which may appear by day in a drenching 

 rain. Sometimes the din and population is incredible. The species appar- 

 ently does not have far to migrate at such times. 



At times these creatures almost crawl along. They can hop from 2 to 6 

 or even 9 or 10 inches. Some think they can swim rapidly, others hold them 

 clumsy. At breeding times they often seek cover near the breeding place. 

 For example, on May 22, 1921, at Newt Pond we found eggs laid the night 

 before. In the daytime we turned over a piece of bark which was sticking 

 into the water. A Gastrophryne carolinensis male scurried or scrambled or 

 rapidly crawled into the water, but not too rapid for its capture. We have 

 noted under Voice how the males crawl out of the water up the vertical banks 

 at times. One male which the boys found under cut grass chmbed the vertical 

 side of a 2-quart can to the top. 



VOICE 



Holbrook (1842, Vol. V, p. 24) says 'Tt makes a feeble chirp at night 

 and at times when captured; and being but a clumsy swimmer, if thrown into 

 water it repeats this chirp in its endeavors to escape." 



