1925] St over: A Synopsis of the Amphibia of California 
177 
Stejneger (1893, p. 220), under Bufo halophilus, records tlie find- 
ing of tadpoles on the East Fork of Kaweah River at an altitude of 
10,200 feet on August 7, 1891. The same author lists numerous 
“adol. ” [adolescent = transforming?] individuals as follows: 
When the adults of this species repair to the water for spawning 
they do not, so far. as the writer is aware, ever congregate by ‘ ‘ hun- 
dreds” or “thousands” as is occasionally reported to be the case with 
americanus of eastern America or vulgaris in western Europe. Ordi- 
narily a dozen or fifteen pairs will constitute the breeding population 
of halophilus at any one spot. The males, while in the water, utter 
series of low mellow tremulous notes. In chorus the notes may be 
compared to the voicings of a brood of young domestic goslings. The 
call of each male is uttered for a second or two and repeated at short 
intervals so that a practically continuous chorus issues from a breeding 
colony. To human ears the notes lack carrying power and can scarcely 
be thought to be of use in attracting toads at any great distance from 
the pools where the males are calling. Occasionally males in their 
daytime retreats will utter the notes once or twice. This species does 
not have an enlarged vocal pouch such as is possessed by many species 
of toads (for example, amerieanm, cognatus, woodhousii) , and this 
lack of a “resonating pouch” is probably responsible for the small 
volume of sound uttered. Calling, with halophilus, is to be heard in 
the daytime as well as at night. 
The mating amplexion in this species is axillary, as described for 
other species of the Bufonidae. 
As spawning places, halophilus uses the margins of permanent or 
temporary ponds, temporary roadside pools, cement water reservoirs, 
and the margins of flowing streams. Eggs are usually deposited in 
water 150 millimeters or less in depth. On one occasion, at Lafayette, 
toads were spawning at the surface of a flowing stream which was 
fully 300 millimeters in depth. 
The egg complement of this species is very large. Many of the old 
adult females measuring 100 millimeters or more in head-and-body 
length contain enormous masses of eggs. Camp (MS) estimates the 
Alvord, Owens Valley 
4.000 feet June 26, 1891 
[3,700 feet] June 6, 1891 
10.000 feet Aug. 22, 1891 
[9,800 feet] Aug. 20, 1891 
5,200 feet Aug. 19, 1891 
[3,400 feet] July 2, 1891 
Lone Pine, Owens Valley 
Round Valley, Tulare Co. 
Whitney Meadows 
Kings River [Fresno Co.] 
Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles Co. 
