Biological Papers. 229 



areolata circulosa, collected on the Wakarusa bottoms near Law- 

 rence, contained two good-sized crayfish. These bottoms afford a 

 place for a good many crayfish to dig their burrows. Evidently 

 this frog had been living at their expense. When caught he had 

 taken refuge in a crayfish hole. The markings are very striking, 

 and distinguish it easily from the common spotted frog. It is cov- 

 ered with large, black, circular blotches. It seems to be quite rare 

 in Kansas. 



The commonest of all frogs, Rana virescens hrachycephala, is 

 probably very useful as an insect destroyer. However it does not 

 equal the common toad. The stomachs of this species which were 

 examined yielded the following miscellaneous food materials : 

 Beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, a worm, water-snails, myriapods, 

 and one solpugid. Both the young and adults were examined. In 

 quantity of material they fall far below the toad. The tadpoles of 

 both toads and frogs live upon vegetable matter. 



Among the lizards and batrachians the toad stands far above 

 any other member in the number and quantity of insects destroyed. 

 On the other hand, taking the groups as a whole, the batrachians 

 are outclassed by the lizards as insect destroyers. Vast numbers 

 are destroyed by them every summer. One cannot really estimate 

 the value of these small animals. 



