110 



BRANCH VERTEBRATA. 



FIG. 190. 



Bu'fo anierl C't' nus. Common Toad. 



off, and they struggle forth. It is interesting to note 

 that they are now much larger than were the eggs, and 

 hence, must, while inclosed, have received nourishment 

 from the body of the parent. 



The common Toad so abundant about our gardens, 

 living almost exclusively upon insects, and. having a most 



voracious appetite, is to 

 the gardener a most use- 

 ful animal. After a 

 shower, or during the 

 evening, it sallies forth 

 from its hiding-place, and 

 by means of its viscid 

 tongue it secures small 

 insects so rapidly that 

 only close observation can detect it in the act. The 

 tongue, unlike ours, is attached in front, and free pos- 

 teriorly ; it is thrown over as it leaves the mouth, en- 

 abling the animal to reach to a considerable distance. 

 The winter is spent in crevices, or in burrows, of their 

 own construction, in sand banks.* 



The Frogs differ from the Toads in that they habit- 

 ually frequent the water, and are provided with teeth 

 in the upper jaAv ; they are well adapted for their semi- 

 aquatic life. Their hind limbs are large and muscular, 



* No doubt they can remain a long time without food, but there is no well 

 authenticated instance of their having been found inclosed in cavities of solid rock 

 with no crevices connecting with the outside world. A naturalist once fed to a 

 toad twenty-three sqxiash-bugs and ninety-four caterpillars, each an inch and a 

 half in length, before it turned away to digest its meal. Feeding mostly by night, 

 the toad is of great aid to the Entomologist in furnishing him with specimens of 

 insects he might otherwise never see ; though he is compelled to sacrifice the life 

 of his assistant in order to avail himself of its services. In spite of popular preju- 

 dice against handling toads, etc., all the members of this order are perfectly 

 harmless, except a temporary smarting that the exudations of the skin may pro- 

 duce if transferred from the hands to the eyes. 



