TFIl'] ISATRACIll/. OF NORTH AMKHIf'A. 



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(»» liiid wliat I (!OIl^sitlcl• (Ikmi- spiiwii, nor liavu I seoii any copulation 

 ainoiii; these toads, so often noticed anion^" tiie common species. 1 have 

 seen them in tliis pond as late in the season as the last of August. 

 Tliere are several ponds in the vicinity of the .jud<;e's pond, but they 

 are not visited by these toads, but I have seen them in small numbers 

 inclayi)its. I have a pond in my grounds that swarms in May with 

 the common to.id, but is never visited by the one under consideration. 

 1 have not noticed the common toad around this pond, but I now intend 

 to make a search for it. In answer to your <iuestion, ' What length of 

 time have thesis toads been observed in this i)ond?' I would say I have 

 noticed them in this pond thirty-five years. In regard to their food, 1 

 think it is dill'erent from that of the common toad, as they will not eat 

 earth-worms, but feed readily upon Hies. This habit I have noticed, as 

 well as my Itrother Augustus, ho having ke|»t them for some months for 

 <he purpr)se, of painting them, and who has furnished me with several 

 figures of this reptile in diilerent attitudes. I have noti(!ed when these 

 toads are held in the hand they make a chirping noise, and when a 

 dozen or moi'c are (ronfined together they make considerable noise. 

 Terhaps the same may be noticed in thc(!ommon toad during the breed- 

 ing season. It is very singular that those I sent you were all iiudes ; 

 they were all croakers, that is certain, for by their note 1 was led to 

 know wlicre to take them in the dark. I have always been pu/zled to 

 know why these toads visit this ]tond during the whole warm season. 

 So far as I have l)een able to judge it is for the sole purpose of croak- 

 ing, for they do nothing else, or to wet their skins. The common 

 toad is found everywhere, and breeds in all the still and (luiet waters 

 in the countiy, whereas this supposed new specties is discovered in a 

 very lew ponds, and is comparatively scarce. I have thought that 

 tiiis toad was of a more spare hattit, if 1 may so speak — not so heavy or 

 corpulent as the common toad, more active, as nnich so as tlu; frog, and 

 full as dillicult to eatcOi. 1 think then^ is more nuifoiinily of si/e and 

 color than we see in the (!omnion toads. I do not recollect in thi^ great 

 numlxMs I ha\e examined to have seen a small one or i)ne dilVcring in 

 color from another. Tiie dillereiice in size and (iolor is very great 

 amongst oui- common toads. I have said in the vicinity i»f this ixtnd I 

 have iVetpieiitly liear<l their note sonie distan(!e from the water at the 

 same timi' others were croaking in the ])ond. 1 have never observed 

 this anywheii^ else in my walks in the evening." 



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IliiJ'o lentifiinosHS woodhoiist'i 15. & (1. 



/;»/<( iiiiiiill,i)iisiH;\v:H,\. I'rococd. Ac. I'liiln., ls"il, Sil; Jiainl, I'. S. Piir. IMi. l?('pts. 



|.. 11, I'l. \xv, lij;. 1. 

 Iliifo/rniilii lis ('iipc, I'mcoeil. Ac, I'liila., ISCiii, )>. I'.ill ; IJcpt. I'.xpl. 1'. S. Smv. W. of 

 Kill MiT., (jl. M. Wlicclcr, 1877, v, p. iVJO, r>>7. 

 This suhspecies may be readily distinguished by its short head with 

 thickened crests elevated j»osteriorly. It readies a. larger size timii 

 eithei' u\' the other sul»species of tlie linfi) Icuiiiiiiinmis. 



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