258 



Batrachia. By Curtis Atkinson. 



Siren lacertina Linnaeus. A single specimen of this species was taken in the 

 seine in the channel. Mr. Dolan secured another late in September, and after- 

 wards, through his students, secured a nest of eleven, which were uncovered while 

 cleaning a lot near Syracuse. These had evidently gone into winter quarters. 

 Five of them are still alive. Turkey Lake is the most northern locality so far 

 recorded foi' the siren. 



NeduruH maculafii:< Kafinesque. Three specimens of this species were secured. 

 It is said to be abundant, but no other specimens were noted. On June 28, a 

 number of eggs were found fastened to the lower surface of a board, which was 

 well imbedded in the mud of the bank of Turkey Creek. The young were al- 

 ready quite active in the loose, flabby bags forming their covering. 



Amhlysfoma jeffersonianiun Green? A single specimen under a log near the 

 lake. 



Biifo leiitiginuxus Shaw. The ubi(|uitous toad was present, but not in great 

 numl)ers at Syracuse, Turkey and Tippecanoe lakes. 



Acris gn/llus crepitans Baird. Abundant along the shallow margins of the 

 lake among rushes and lillypads. Detailed localities where it was taken are 

 outlet of String Lakes, Turkey Lake, Syracuse Lake, Turkey Creek, Webster and 

 Tippecanoe Lakes and Tippecanoe River. 



Rana rirescens Kalm. Very abundant and variable. I am not at all certain 

 that the varieties described by Cope and Hay are to be found among our material, 

 but it seems cjuite certain that there is no correlation in the variations of different 

 parts of the body. If varieties are to be distinguished it must be by separating 

 them on single characters. 



I have made measurements of a number of characters to determine whether 

 the 120 specimens collected could be grouped according to any of these. 



The relation of the tibia in the length of the body gave the length of the 

 tibia .o5 that of the body as the most common relation between the parts. 



From this there is a gradual reduction to a length of .49 on the one hand and 

 an increase to .70 on the other. But .20 of the specimens had the tibia with the 

 most common length. This character is then j'ei'ftctly useless in sei)arating 

 varieties in my specimens. 



The same may be said of the length of the head in the length of the body, 

 .33 is the relation occurring oftenest and from this there is a variation to .20 on 

 one hand and .27 on the other; .20 of all the specimens have the length of the head 

 .33 of the length of the body. 



