281 



1cm and Newbuiyport -would be better acquainted with each 

 other, vicing in its line of floriculture, or in kindred pur- 

 suits ; and that the Essex Institute might find encourage- 

 ment for some future more extensive exploration from the 

 enjoyment, it has received to-day. 



The following paper was presented by Samuel P. Fowler 

 of Danversport upon a supposed new species of toad hitherto 

 undescribed. 



I would offer to day for the consideration of tlio Institute, 

 an undescribed species of toad, found in Danvers and prob- 

 ably in many other places, together with its history and 

 habits, so far as they have been ascertained. Some fifteen 

 years since, a specimen of this reptile was sent to the Boston 

 Natural History Society, and Avas pronounced by one of its 

 members to be Bufo lentiginosus of Shaw and the Land 

 Frog of Bartram. 



Xot being satisfied at the time, that this was the true 

 lentiginosus, from the fact that its face was not full of 

 freckles, as its specific name implied, and having expressed at 

 the last meeting of the Institute my doubts in regard to it, 

 I resolved during the present season to make a further ex- 

 amination of it. This has led me to ascertain that the rep- 

 tile under consideration, has as yet been undescribed and 

 no notice whatever taken of it by any Herpetologist. In its 

 general appearance as will be seen, it closely resembles the 

 common toad, but is totally unlike it so far as I have noticed 

 in its habits and its croak. It makes its first appearance, 

 known by its note, in the early part of June, in the evening 

 about dusk when the season has become warm and the 

 fire flies are seen abroad, uttering its peculiar cry, not very 

 much unlike the whoop of an Indian. 



And as the notes of the cheerful little peeping Hyla may 

 be considered the first " Voice of Spring," so we may feel 

 assured when we hear the unpleasant croak of this singular 

 reptile, that the " Child of the Sun, refulgent Summer, has 

 at last come." 



In cool evenings, with the thermometer at sixty degrees, it 

 is silent. 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. VOL. 11. 36. 



