Hurter^Herpetology of Mmouri. 99 



Howell, Oregon, Butler, New Madrid, Dunklin, Shannon, 

 Cape Girardeau, St. Francois, Washington, Madison, St. 

 Charles, Warren, Montgomery, Pike, Boone, and Ran- 

 dolph Counties. In Illinois it has been found in St. Clair, 

 Madison and Monroe Counties. 



Habits.— The habits of this toad are mostly nocturnal, 

 although it is not uncommon to see a toad hopping about 

 in the daylight. Usually, however, they hide away during 

 the day in holes or under pieces of wood in shady corners, 

 and come forth at evening to seek their food, which con- 

 sists mainly of all kinds of insects, of which they devour an 

 enormous number. It is related that an old toad ate at 

 one time twenty-three squash bugs, and on top of these, 

 ninety-four caterpillars. On account of this propensity 

 for devouring insects, intelligent gardeners and farmers 

 seek to induce toads to take up their residence on their 

 grounds. No boy should be permitted to kill this harmless 

 animal. The prey is taken by suddenly projecting the 

 tongue from the mouth, and then withdrawing it with the 

 insect sticking to it. Beside insects, toads will eat earth- 

 worms, and small crustaceans. The warty skin of the 

 toad is full of large glands, which secrete a thick whitish 

 fluid. This has very acrid properties, and doubtless serves 

 to render the animal unpalatable to most of its enemies. 

 It does not seem, however, to protect it from snakes. It 

 is said that this secretion will make the mouth of dogs 

 sore. During the winter the toad hibernates in holes and 

 in the mud. (Hay.) 



The toad appears early in spring after some warm days. 

 Soon after emerging from its winter retreat, it repairs to 

 the water for the purpose of depositing its eggs. These 

 are laid in a long string, consisting of a double series of 

 eggs enveloped in a tube of gelatinous material. Mr. E. 

 E. Crosby states that he counted 8,840 eggs from one 

 toad. The young hatch early and are of a darker color 

 than usual with other Salientia. The length of a young 

 mature toad is about one-half inch ; the color grayish, with 



