h'cpf/fes and Amphibians of Illinots. 333 



Extreme southern part of the State. 



This is a small, clumsy toad, with a very small head and 

 disproportionately stout hind limbs. It has been reported from 

 the most southern part of the State only, and is probably very 

 rare even there. It is one of the species which, like the siren, 

 water-moccasin, and red-bellied horn snake, mark southern 

 Illinois as a part of a southern zoological sub-region. Outside 

 Illinois the species is almost confined to the Southern States; 

 though Dr. Holbrook thought he recognized its peculiar note 

 in the State of New York. Of its habits but little can be 

 written at present, LeConte found it abundant under logs in 

 Georgia, and others have collected it among weeds. The pecu- 

 liar form, small immersed head, small withdrawn eyes, and 

 strong hind legs, suggest subterranean habits. 



Family BUFONID^E. 



Parotids present. Tympanum present or absent. Fingers 

 and toes not expanded at their tips; the former perfectly free; 

 the latter with small or large webs. Skin generally more or 

 less warty. No teeth. Hearing apparatus fully developed. 

 Superior plate of the ethmoid bone ossified, usually covered by 

 the completely ossified parieto-frontals, or by these and the 

 prefrontals together. Precoracoids present, divergent from the 

 coracoids, the latter dilated, nearly or quite in contact, each 

 connected with the former on the same side by a cartilaginous 

 arch. Diapophyses of sacral vertebra dilated. Urostyle at- 

 tached to two sacral condyles. 



The family contains four genera, and ninety-nine species. 

 Species belonging to the family are found in all the great zoo- 

 logical regions. 



BUFO, Laurenti. 



Laurenti, Synopsis Reptilium, 1768. 

 Hoft'iTiann, Broan's Thier-Reich, VI., Amphibien, p. 643. 

 Smith, (leol. Sarv. Ohio, IV., Zool. and Bot. PC. I., Zool, 1882, 

 p. 702. 



Head moderate in size, broadly rounded. Mouth rather 

 large. Parotids well developed, with evident pores. Tympa- 

 num more or less distinct. Short and stout; fingers and toes 



