FIELD BOOK OF PONDS AND STREAMS 



but after the middle of May, the day voices cease though the 

 evening notes may be heard till midsummer. Males reach 

 the ponds slightly earlier than the females, but mating occurs 

 as soon as both sexes have arrived. 



Life history. — Toads lay their eggs in May, almost always 

 in quiet water. They are in two long, curling tubes of jelly, 

 each containing a single row of black eggs, four to twelve 

 thousand of them from one toad. In the water the jelly 

 swells and gathers dirt, and pond bottoms are often covered 

 with these dirty, twisted ropes, containing myriads of develop- 

 ing toads (PL XX). The eggs hatch into black tadpoles 

 within five to twelve days, depending upon the temperature. 



From the middle of June to late July, shallow waters swarm 

 with tadpoles, transforming into toads. Young toads gather 

 on the shores, hopping up the banks and into the grass, meet- 

 ing their enemies — birds, snakes, frogs — and being eaten by 

 thousands. But the survivors persevere, and forage along 

 the stream side, finally departing for higher ground. 



In July and August the old toads leave the ponds and scatter 

 into the gardens and fields, feeding there until they go into 

 hibernation for the winter. 



Size. — Male 2 to 3 inches; female larger. 



Range. — In most regions east of the Rocky Mountains from 

 Mexico to Great Bear Lake; southern states. 



Fowler's toad, Bufo fowleri. — In some parts of New Eng- 

 land, Fowler's toad is commoner than the American toad or 

 takes its place. It comes out of hibernation much later; 

 Dickerson says of it, "In late May and June the toad chorus 

 in Rhode Island consists mainly of the voices of Fowler's toad, 

 with only an occasional sweet note from the American toad. 

 In July it is rarely that we hear any voice but that of Fowler's 

 toad." 



Its slender legs make it a good jumper, almost as agile as 

 a frog. It is drab, yellowish, or greenish gray with irregular 

 spots of black or dark brown; its under parts are smooth 



370 



