324 ILLINOIS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
Bufo americanus Le Conte, Common Toad. This is the 
most conspicuous amphibian in the Charleston region. Its 
eggs are laid usually in April in the larger and more perma- 
nent ponds. Very few of these have been found in small tem- 
porary pools or in streams. This preference as to breeding 
habitat is undoubtedly a strong factor in making the toad so 
abundant compared with other amphibians in the region. 
Transformation stages are found in June, but they have been 
noted as late as September (September 10, 1902). 
Acris gryllus Le Conte, Cricket Frog. Very common along 
shores of ponds and streams, preferring open, exposed shores 
to wooded ones and larger and more permanent bodies of 
water to small temporary ones. It has a longer active season 
than any other amphibian in the region and is common in early 
spring and late fall. Often it is seen in winter about streams, 
sometimes on the snow or ice there. Its breeding time has not 
been determined, but tadpoles an inch long have been found 
in late April (1904). 
Hyla pickeringu Holb., Spring Peeper. The frogs have 
not been noted, but on May 30, 1912, some transformation 
stages were found in a pond some eight miles southwest of 
Charleston. 
Hyla versicolor Le Conte, Tree Frog. Frequently heard, 
but specimens are rarely found on account of their inconspicu- 
ousness. 
Chorophilus nigritus (Le Conte), Swamp Tree Frog. Com- 
mon. Their calls are one of the signs of the arrival of spring. 
Their eggs appear to be laid in ponds of all kinds, including 
small temporary pools in which they commonly meet their 
destruction through these drying up within a few days after 
the eggs are laid. Typically some seventy-five or a hundred 
eggs are laid at once. These are embedded in an ovoid, gel- 
atinous envelope about two inches in length and attached com- 
monly to a submerged leaf or grass blade. 
Some transformation stages were found on May 27, 1912, 
and on July 22, 1910, and August 17, 1910. The habitat of 
the adult in the region at times other than the early spring, has 
not been determined, for only one specimen has been found 
away from the breeding places and that one was in a clover 
field, July 23, 1909. 
