1883.] Zoölogy. 671 
doubled inward at each angle of the mouth ; in Hyla and Hylodes 
the upper lip is broad, and the border of the lower lip does not 
double inward at the corners of the mouth; while in Bufo it is 
broad and nearly straight, and the angles of the lower lip are 
doubled in. Tadpoles feed first upon the gelatinous envelope that 
surrounded the eggs they sprang from, and then by preference on 
animal food. The two toads have one fringed fold under the 
upper lip, and two on the lower ; those of the Ranidæ vary in num- 
ber; while the two tree-frogs have one above and two or three 
below. In some species the line of papillæ on the lower lip is 
broken by a central fringe like that on the folds. The papillæ 
appear to test the nature of the objects that touch the mouth. 
HYBRIDIZATION OF Brook TROUT AND GRAYLING.—!I think the 
brook trout and grayling could be crossed, provided the fish spawn 
at the same time of year. The brook trout cast their spawn in 
most of our streams during the fall and winter months and the 
grayling spawn during the spring months. I have crossed the 
striped bass with shad, herring with shad, white fish with salmon, 
salmon with brook trout and brook trout with salmon trout. 
The last-mentioned cross is the most successful and valuable 
think they will make a large trout, suitable for rivers and 
lakes. Next season I shall cross them again with brook trout, 
and the young will be seven-eighths brook trout and one-eighth 
salmon trout. None of the salmon trout and brook trout hybrids 
yet produced have the vermilion spots of the brook trout. 
think if the three-quarters cross does not bring them out, seven- 
cighths will, and there will be a new family of speckled trout, 
that will grow to a large size and be a choice fish. 
I think the grayling and the California mountain trout could be 
~ Crossed, as they spawn the same time of year. If I lived in a 
. grayling country I would know before another season passed. 
think the cross will be made within a few years, and I consider it 
a very important point in fish culture. I have made many other 
attempts at hybridizing with more or less success.—Seth Green, 
in the American Angler, May 13th, 1882. 
Errect oF Birps on Insect Lire.—In a recent brochure by 
. S. A. Forbes, State Entomologist of Illinois, he shows that, in 
es: Considering the effects of birds on insect life, there are three ques- 
= to answer, as follows: 
-L Do birds originate any oscillations among the species of in- 
sects upon which they feed? That is, are their food-habits ever 
5o inconstant from year to year that species which are at one time 
Pt elements of their food, are at other times neglected and 
Owed to multiply, without restraint? 
