COMMON TOAD. 



125 



alluded to, immediately takes place. Its quickest move- 

 ment is an imperfect leap. 



The general form of the Toad is certainly far from pre- 

 possessing. The body is puffed out and swollen ; the head 

 large, flat on the top ; the muzzle rounded, and very obtuse. 

 There are no teeth either in the jaw bones, or on the palate. 

 There is above the eyes a slight protuberance, studded with 

 pores ; and the parotids are large, thick, prominent, and 

 porous, secreting an acrid fluid. Body covered with warts, 

 which are larger above, and more numerous beneath. Fore 

 feet with four toes, not at all palmated ; hind legs of mode- 

 rate length ; the toes five in number, and slightly palmated. 

 The colours are liable to some variation, but are always 

 much lighter and brighter immediately after the removal of 

 the old cuticle ; the upper parts are of a dirty, lurid, or 

 blackish grey, with sometimes a slight greenish tinge ; 

 tubercles more or less brown ; beneath, dirty yellowish- 

 white, sometimes spotted with black. 



Dimensions of a large specimen : — 



Total length 

 Hinder leg 

 Fore leg 



In. Lines. 



3 5 



3 7 



2 2 



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