6i8 Home Nature-Study Course. 



(17). What is this web between the toes for? 



(i8j. Will a toad change color if placed upon different colored ob- 

 jects? 



Facts for teachers. — The general color of the common American toad is ex- 

 tremel) variable. It many be yellowish-brown with spots and bands of a lighter 

 colur and the warts may be reddish or yellow. There are likely to be four ir- 

 regular spots of dark color along each side of the middle of the back. The under 

 parts are light colored and may be somewhat spotted. The throat of the male toad 

 is black, the female is much brighter in color than is the male. The skin above is 

 covered with warts which are glands; these glands secrete a substance which is 

 disagreeable for the animal that tries to eat it. This is especially true of the glands 

 in the large swelling behind and above the ear. Some people have an idea that 

 the toad is slimy but this is not true ; the skin is perfectly dry. It feels cold to 

 the hand because it is a cold blooded animal, and this means an animal whose 

 blood is about the temperature of the atmosphere surrounding the animal, while 

 the blood of the warm blooded animal has a temperature of its own which it 

 maintains whether the surrounding air is cold or not. The toads eyes are ele- 

 vated and are very pretty. The pupil is oval and the iris which surrounds it is 

 yellow, shining like gold. 1 he toad winks in a very peculiar way. The eyes 

 seem to be pulled down into the head during this process; the toad has the 

 nictitating lid, which rises to cover the eye, similar to that found in birds. When 

 a toad is sleeping its eyes are not bulging but are even with surface of head. The 

 two nostrils are black and very easily seen; the ear is a flat, oval spot behind the 

 eye and a little lower down. In the toad it is not quite so large as the eye. This 

 is really the ear drum as the toad does not have an external ear like ours. The 

 swelling or elongated wart above and back of the ear is called the paratoid gland ; 

 its chief interest to the children is tliat the glands which open on this wart give 

 forth a milky substance when the toad is seized by an enemy, and the substance is 

 poisonous. However, the snakes do not seem to mind it. The toad's mouth is 

 wide and its jaws are horny. It does not need teeth in the ordinary sense 

 since it swallows its prey whole. The arms are shorter than the legs and there are 

 four fingers to each hand. When the toad is resting its fingers " toe in." The legs 

 are long and strong, and the pupils should realize it is because of their length 

 and strength that the toad is enabled to hop. There are five toes on the feet, the 

 fourth toe is the longest and the hind feet are webbed to enable the toad to swim. 

 However, tliis web is not as complete as that of the frog. 



If a toad is removed from the earth or the moss garden and put in a white wash- 

 bowl — in a few hours it will change to a lighter hue and vice versa. This is a part 

 of its protective coloring to make it inconspicuous so snakes will not discover it. 



LESSON LXVIII. 

 THE HAr.ITS OF TTTE TOAD. 



Purpose. — To make the ptipils acquainted with the interesting habits 

 and the economic value of the toad. 

 Ohscrvotions. — 



(i). ^^'hcrc does the toad live? 



('2). How do its colors and warts aid it? 



(3). When a toad is disturbed how does it act? 



(4). How is it possible for a toad to make such long leaps? 



