244 REPTILES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



principal varieties, in one of which the spots, as well as the 

 yellow on the thighs, disappear altogether." 



The specimen I possess was captured in Roxbury. 



Buro. Laurenti. 



Generic characters. Head, short ; jaivs without teeth ; tym- 

 pamim visible ; behind the ear is a large glandular tumour, 

 having visible pores ; body short, thick, sioollen, covered ivith 

 warts or papillae ; posterior extremities but slightly elongated. 



B. Americanus. The common Toad. 



Harlan's Med. and Phys. Res. p. 109. 

 N. A. Herpetol. vol. i. p. 75. 



This very common species is beginning to be looked upon 

 by the horticulturalist in the light of a benefactor, and by many 

 is carefully preserved on their grounds for the benefits it af- 

 fords them by feeding upon noxious insects. 



A fine specimen, three inches in length, furnishes the follow- 

 ing description : Greatest width, two inches. Body, brown- 

 ish, mottled with black blotches; its whole upper surface cov- 

 ered with prominent tubercles ; those upon the back, 

 larger ; beneath, granulated, yellowish, sprinkled with black 

 spots. Head large ; superciliary ridges prominent ; tympanum 

 small, light colored, with an irregular darker colored black 

 marking within its circumference. Mouth, large. Post 

 tympanal glands large, equal in length to the distance between 

 them. Eyes large ; pupils black ; irides beautifully reticula- 

 ted with black and golden ; eyelids tuberculated. Between 

 the eyes, on the top of the head, a yellowish white line com- 

 mences, which terminates at the posterior extremity of the 

 body. 



The extremities above, of the same color as the back ; be- 

 neath, the color of the abdomen. A few small dark colored 

 blotches upon the anterior extremities ; larger spots, sometimes 



