312 VERTEBRATES: BATRACHIANS. 



eral additional species, from an inch and a quarter to an 

 inch and a half in length, are found in the Southern States. 

 The Genus Hylodes comprises the Cricket Frogs. 

 The Savanna* Cricket, H. gryllus, Holbr., of the Atlan- 

 tic and Gulf coast, is one and a half inches long, cinereous 

 above, vertebral line green or red, and the sides with 

 three oblong black spots, edged with white ; under parts 

 silver white. It is found -on the leaves of aquatic plants, 

 is very agile, and makes long leaps to secure insects, 

 which constitute its food. It is constantly chirping like 

 a cricket, is easily domesticated, and sings merrily even 

 in confinement. 



Pickering's Hylodes, H. Pickeringii, 

 Holbr., of New England and the Middle 

 States, is less than one inch long, body 

 yellowish brown, with small, dusky rhom- 

 boidal spots, and lines of the same color, 

 Pickering's Hylodes, sometimes arranged in the form of a cross ; 

 H.pickeringa^^. abdomen pale fl es h-color, throat tinged 



with yellow. It is found in woods upon the ground, or 

 upon plants growing near water. In the spring-time, its 

 shrill, piping note is heard throughout the night. 



BUFONID^E, OR TOAD FAMILY. This Family comprises 

 batrachians which have a short, thick body, warty above 

 and granulated beneath, the upper jaw and palate in most 

 cases destitute of teeth. They are mainly nocturnal. 

 They confer a great benefit upon the farmer and gar- 

 dener by destroying insects. 



The Genus Bufo contains the Toads proper, about half 

 a dozen species of which are found in the United States. 



The Carolina Toad, B. lentiginosus, Shaw, of the South* 

 ern States, is two and a half inches long, with a large head. 



The Common American Toad, B. americanus, LeC, of 

 the United States, is two and a half inches long, with 

 large, brilliant eyes. In spring, when it resorts to the 



