344. Cincinnati Society of Natural History. 
rather imperfectly known in many respects, a few notes as to its habits 
and apperance at that (the breeding) season, may be an acceptable 
contribution to its life history. 
They were quite abundant at the time and place above mentioned, 
swimming about at the surface of the water, and uttering a penis 
croak which somewhat resembled the ‘‘tchauk”’ of the Rusty Grakle, 
and again making a sound very like the low quackling of the domes- 
tic duck, 
The females, which are much larger than the males, and of a different 
color, were also out numbered by them, there being, as nearly as 
could be determined, about four or five males to one female. Each 
female had from three to five males hanging on to various available 
points of her anatomy, there being often one to each leg, and a fifth 
clasping the neck, and when any one of them was picked up out of the 
water, so pre-occupied were they all for the time being, that the entire 
bunch hung together for several seconds, finally letting go their holds 
and dropping back into the water one by one. By March 15 they had 
entirely disappeared from the ponds, probably to resume their sylvan 
life, as the species is. known to be aquatic only during the reproductive 
season. As the species has been rather unsatisfactorily described 
heretofore (the male having apparently been overlooked altogether ), 
and as there are marked differences between the sexes, both in size oo 
in coloration, a description of both sexes is subjoined. 
Marz.—Above, very dark olive brown ;.below, soiled greenish or 
yellowish-white. A dorsal line extending from center of forehead along 
anterior two-thirds of back, soiled whitish. Dorsal surface of thigh, 
leg and foot, each with three diagonal bands of blackish brown. A black 
line from eye through nostril, gradually narrowing toward its anterior 
extremity. A triangular black patch extends downward and back- 
ward from the inferior orbital margin, and incloses the tympanum. 
Eyes, prominent; iris, golden yellow above and below, black at outer 
and inner segments. Feet. full-webbed; toes, five, the fourth much the 
longest and stoutest. Fingers, four, the first much thickened, and 
presenting the appearance of two grown together. Length of head, 
body and outstretched hind leg, 54 inches. 
FremMaLte.— Much larger than male. Above, dingy pinkish red. Four 
diagonal transverse bands of blackish on thigh, three on leg, and three 
on foot. Head markings as in the male. Length of head, body and 
outstretched hind leg, 7 inches. 
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