FAMILY RANIDA. 67 
judge from those in my possession, although completely identical with the solitarius, I should 
be disposed to believe that our northern variety is less brilliant in its markings, and its general 
color is of a more grave and sombre hue. Dr. Pickering, I learn, has recently seen it in the 
neighborhood of Salem, where they appear in great numbers, at distant periods, after rains 
of long continuance. 
GENUS BUFO. Laurentz. 
Body thick swollen, covered with warts or papilla. Jaws without teeth. Behind the ear 
a large glandular tumor, having visible pores. Head short. Posterior extremities but 
slightly elongated. 
THE COMMON AMERICAN TOAD. 
Buro AMERICANUS. 
PLATE XIX. FIG. 46. Youne. — PLATE XX. FIG. 52. Apuur. 
Bufo americanus. Le Conte, Cat. in McMurtrie’s Trans. of Cuvier’s Régne Animal. 
B. musicus, Haran, Ac. Nat. Sc. Vol. 5, p. 344 (excl. syn.) ; Med. and Phys. Res. p. 109. 
B. americanus. Hoisroox, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 1. p. 75, pl. 9; and Vol. 5, pl. 4, 2d Ed. 
The Common Toad. Storer, Massachusetts Report, p. 244. KirtLanp, Zoology of Ohio, p. 168. 
Characteristics. Body moderately verrucose. Post-tympanal gland long and narrow. Pos- 
terior toes semipalmate. Greyish mottled with dusky, and dark bars across 
the feet. Length three inches. 
Description. Body corpulent, covered with numerous reddish warts irregularly distributed ; 
granular beneath. Head short, but wide ; channelled above by the prominence of the su- 
perciliary ridges. Eyes large and prominent; the eyelids tuberculated. Nostrils small, 
rounded, and nearer to the nose than the eyes. Parotids prominent, tuberculated, reniform. 
Fore feet with four short free toes. Hind feet with its five toes connected at their bases. 
Inner toe shortest ; thence gradually increasing in length to the penultimate, or second from 
the outer toe : a large tubercle beneath. 
Color. This is subject to many variations, dependent upon age, season, scanty or abundant 
supply of food, and even varies at the will of the animal. It may be described generally as 
grey brown or ash, with irregular but well defined dark blotches, and a pale ash dorsal stripe 
extending from between the eyes to the posterior part of the body. Eyes black ; irides varied 
with yellow and black. On the extremities are dark brown bars, extending over the toes. 
Beneath soiled white. Young, at first dull reddish brown, but by the end of the season 
become mottled and barred as in the figure. There is a variety occasionally found of a bright 
red or brick-dust color, but which in other respects resembles this species. 
Length 2 - 3 inches, 
