AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES. 107 
is shrill, though not continuous. The vocal sac collapses suddenly 
or very quickly, suddenly distends, and then collapses again as the 
peep is heard. They do not appear to him to vary much in color. 
The throat or vocal sac is dusky-purple in the breeding season. 
During the very mild January of 1906, Dr. J. Percy Moore re- 
ports them as having been heard near Woodbury, and Mr, J. A. 
G. Rehn also reports that several weak notes were heard near 
Staffords Forge or West Creek, Ocean County. At the same 
time Dr. Abbott also noted it at Trenton. Near Sewell on April 
tst, 1906, I heard a number of these toads by midday. The morn- 
ing was cold at first with thin ice all about, which in a short time 
had thawed in most places, so that in the hollows, which were 
apparently not at all frozen during the night, some of these toads 
peeped occasionally. Perhaps only several calls would be heard at 
rather rare intervals, and then in a short time others growing more 
numerous. The animals were in all probability only aroused 
from their benumbed state by the warm action of the sun. On 
the upland the action of the wind, which was blowing, made it 
difficult at times to make out their cries. Though said to be 
our most abundant eastern species, it is seldom found, and is in 
evidence usually through its voice. Cope states, as I have ob- 
served, that “after the rattling of the Acris gryllus in the marshes 
and river banks in the lowlands is fairly under way, during: the 
first bright days of spring, the shrill cry or whistle of this little 
creature begins to enliven the colder swamps and meadows of the 
hill country. Different individuals answer each other with differ- 
ently toned voices of a single note. This is exceedingly shrill 
and loud; the muscular force employed in expelling the air from 
the lungs seems to collapse the animal’s sides till they nearly 
meet, while the gular sac is distended with each expulsion to half 
the size of the head and body together. They are chiefly noisy 
in the end of the afternoon, but in shady situations or on dark 
days may be heard through the morning and noon. When the 
breeding season is over they may be still found, but with diff- 
culty, among fallen leaves in low places, where their color admir- 
ably adapts them for concealment, or in cellars, or on the ground 
in the woods. Not till the approach of autumn do we have 
evidence of their ascent into the trees. Then when the wind is 
