222 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



The Green Toad is somewhat more aquatic than the 

 Common Toad, the breeding season, which begins in 

 April, extending to June. The eggs, which are much more 

 numerous than in the latter species, numbering up to 

 12,000, although somewhat smaller, greatly resemble those 

 of B. vulgaris. The tadpole, however, is larger than that 

 of either the Common Toad or the closely allied Natter- 

 jack Toad, and attains a total length of nearly two 

 inches. 



The variety arabicus, of Arabia and Northern Egypt, is 

 a dwarf form, not growing to more than two inches in 

 length. Specimens received from Captain Flower were 

 very aquatic in their habits, spending, unlike the typical 

 form, the greater part of their time swimming about in 

 the water. 



The Natterjack Toad, B. calamita, is found in dry, 

 sandy districts over the greater part of Northern and 

 Western Europe. In the British Isles it is found in a 

 few localities in Ireland and Scotland, while in England, 

 although decidedly local, it is widely distributed. From 

 the Green Toad, which in some cases it superficially re- 

 sembles, it may be distinguished by the toes being merely 

 webbed at the base instead of at least half webbed, by 

 the shorter limbs, and by the first finger not extending 

 beyond the second, as is the case in B. viridis. The snout 

 is short and blunt ; the tympanum is small and sometimes 

 indistinct ; the hind-limb is short, and only shghtly longer 

 than the head and body. The upper parts are covered 

 with numerous large warts ; the parotoid glands are small. 

 The colour of the upper surfaces is greyish or greenish- 

 brown, with brown and olive markings, which, however, 

 are not so distinct as in the Green Toad ; some of the 



