THE BATRACHIA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



301 



Habits. — This species, tboiigb so widely distributed, is seblom seen. 

 After rains in Spring and summer its cries may be beard at nigbt, pro- 

 ceeding always, so far as my experience goes, from temporary pools. 

 I bave observed it twice in Pennsylvania, twice iu New Jersey, and 

 ouce in Massachusetts ou tbe main land opposite Martha's Vineyard. 

 Specimens from tbe latter locality which I kept in a vivarium buried 

 themselves in the earth by day, but issued at nightfall and indus- 

 triously explored their surroundings. Their burrows were concealed 

 by the loose earth which fell into and filled them, but below this the 

 bouy top of the head could be always found. Frequently one eye pro- 

 jected from the debris, presenting with its brassy-colored iris a most 

 singular appearance. On being irritated with a hard object they utter 

 a clattering note entirely unlike that of the breeding season. 



SCAPHIOPUS COUCHII Baird. 



(Plate 68, fig. 2.) 



Proceed. Ac. Phila., vii, 1855, p. 62, aud U. S. Mex. Bound. Surv., ii, 1859, 

 Kept., p. 28, PI. 35, figs. 1-6; Cope, Proceed. Ac. Phila., 1863, p. 52; 

 Brocchi, Miss. Sc. Mex., Batr., p. 26 ; Bouleuger, Cat. Batr. Sal. Brit. 

 Mus., 2d ed., 1882, p. 454. 



Scaphiopus varius Cope, I. c, j). 52; BroccLi, I. c, p. 27. 



Scaphiopiis rectifrenis Cope, Proceed. Ac. Phila., 1863, p. 53; Brocchi, Miss. Sc. Mex., 

 Batr., p. 27; Boulenger, Cat. Brit. Mus., 2d ed., 1882, 43.5. 



Form stout; head more elongate, acuminate oval; width of frontal 

 region greater than from lip to nares, one-thiid the length of the tibia. 

 Profile gradually descending; front plane, muzzle projecting, rounded. 

 Anterior border of tympanum scarcely distinguishable. Byes very 

 prominent. Vomerine teeth opposite middle of choan«, which equal 

 ostia pharyngea. Tongue round, slightly emarginate. Parotoid gland 

 flat, descending on the side. Skin tuberculous, especially on the sides ; 

 sometimes a slightcryptiferous thickening of integument of tibia; none 

 on the sides of the pectoral region. A posttympanic and an aute- 

 pectoral fold. Abdomen slightly rugose; gular region smooth. Cunei- 

 form process elongate. Toes fully palmate. 



1 - xrr^- 4 6 



Tig. 75. Scaphiopun couchii varius. Cope. 5893; nat. size. Capo St. Lucas, Cal. 



Color above yellowish, with irregular brown bands, which converge 

 between and behind the orbits; others diverge on the flanks, beginning 

 at the orbit.«<; one from same i)oint to hip and one on canthus rostralis. 

 There is a confluence of dorsal biuids near the saerum, A light band 

 on outer face of tarsus and toe; hand yellowish, 



