I!Ji)wis Tieptiles and Amphihians. 189 



encircled with white. The vocal sacs are very small, and no 

 evidence of their presence is visible from without. The note is 

 a low gutteral croak quite unlike that of the eastern variety, as 

 described by Prof. E. D. Cope (Standard Natural History). In 

 southern Illinois and along the Mississippi River is a variety 

 generally of a coppery color with small spots, the anterior of 

 the three, so conspicuous on the head of the prairie variety, 

 being generally wanting. 



Hyla cinerea, Schn. 



An example of this beautiful tree-frog was taken from lily 

 pads at the edge of Bluff Lake, Union county, Illinois, some 

 years ago. Judging by the frequency with which the peculiar 

 bell-like note was heard at the time, the species is common in 

 the locality. The single example taken conforms more closely 

 with the variety sei)iifa.'^ciafi( than with the type forms of the 

 species. It differs from the latter in its greater size, and in 

 that the lateral pale stripe terminates on the middle of the side. 



It is not mentioned in Dr. Jordan's Manual. 



ChorojihiJns triseriatus, Wied. 



This is the characteristic prairie "tree-frog." It is always 

 found upon the ground or in the water, and never, as far as I 

 have observed, mounts upon vegetation. It occurs in very great 

 abundance in ponds and ditches in early spring, being the first 

 of the ecaudate forms to appear. The most nearly musical of 

 all our amphibians. 



Bufo lentiginosus, Shaw. 



Two very different varieties of this species occur in Illinois. 

 On the prairies is found a large sluggish toad which gathers 

 in great numbers in the ponds after the salamanders and 

 tree-frogs are gone. Its skin is extremely warty, and the 

 ventral surface is mottled with black, often so closely as to 

 give the prevailing color. Its note is a high prolonged trill. 



In the south part of the State is a more active toad with a 

 smoother skin and white ventral surface, with at most a black 

 spot on the chest. The note of this variety is a singular squawk 

 which it is hardly po-sible to represent in words. This variety is 

 the only toad which occurs in Kentucky. I have seen no inter- 

 gradation of the two, and am inclined to think they may be 



