10 THE COMMON TOAD. 



"Sweet are the uses of adversity, 

 Which, like the Toad, ugly and venomous, 

 Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." 



Now, with a view to banish from our minds such absurd and unjust 

 antipathies towards this unfortunate reptile, which is not only inoffensive, 

 but of the greatest service to us in preserving our fruits and flowers from 

 the ravages of injurious insects, I purpose to give an outline of its history, 

 manners, and utility, which I hope will be the means of sparing the life 

 of many a poor Toad. It is a fact well known to every Naturalist that 

 the food of the Toad consists of insects; though all of them are perhaps 

 not aware of the extent to which it preys upon the larger Gohoptera, 

 and chiefly of the Carabideous kind. I have frequently found in the 

 stomachs of these creatures the heads, thoraces, and elytra of Steropus 

 madidus, a very common insect under stones, Omaseus melanarius, also a 

 very abundant species, Galathus melanocepTialus, and Clstdoides, also com- 

 mon; I have also found the elytra of some of Curculionidee. It also devours 

 immense quantities of worms, slugs, earwigs, caterpillars, ants, woodlice, 

 and flies of various species; I have seen a Toad dispatch thirty of these 

 pests in two minutes. They also devour the common wasp, (Vespa vul- 

 garis,) Bomhus terrestris, and Apis melUfica, catching them with its viscid 

 agile tongue, with a rapidity that the eye can scarcely follow: never is 

 the aim missed. The prey touched by the tongue adheres firmly, the viscid 

 saliva being very tenaceous, and is instantly carried to the back of the 

 mouth and swallowed. The senses of taste and smell are not very acute; 

 their sight, however, is quick and accurate. 



The usefulness of the Toad in gardens, particularly under frames in 

 green and hothouses, cannot be too highly estimated; and instead of being 

 considered a useless ugly reptile, to be kicked out of the garden or stoned 

 to death, is worthy of all the protection the horticulturist can give it; 

 it is really deserving of a shady snug corner in every greenhouse, where 

 it may be petted, and its curious and interesting habits observed; for in this 

 situation the Toad is "a pearl of great price." They are easily rendered 

 familiar, and susceptible of no inconsiderable degree of attachment to those 

 who treat them with kindness. 



Like the rest of the Amphibia the Toad becomes torpid during winter, 

 except in hothouses; in this torpid state they may be generally found in 

 some retired and sheltered spot, as under large stones, etc.; and there 

 they remain until the return of spring calls them into a state of life. The 

 Toad has frequently been found in holes in rocks and hollows of trees, 

 whither they had no doubt resorted in search of insect food, or for shelter, 

 and where they have remained until the cavity has become partly closed; 

 which has given rise to many absurd tales respecting their having been 



