256 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



were entangled in the upper cluster of burrs, showing that 

 possibly in the first struggle of the bird for its liberty it suffered 

 severe contact there, stripping off many of its feathers. It 

 finally fell victim to the lower bunch of the inextricable hooks 

 and perished from fright and starvation. 



Goldfinches not infrequently fall victims to the burdock 

 traps. Mr. Bowdish, in the article before cited, mentions 

 that young barn swallows not infrequently become entangled 

 in the horse hairs of the nest lining and break a leg or are choked 



to death. Doubtless some of our 

 ^ readers will be able to recall 



mishaps to birds from their 

 personal experience, for there 

 must be many of such hap- 

 pening in nature. 



The Toad's Social Life 



OASTED in.sect morsels are not 

 often to lie had, and whether 

 thoroughly cooked, or not, seem 

 (H|ually satisfactory to the toad's 

 j)alate. A number of toads 

 made regular night visits to the 

 base of a large beech tree under the bright gasolene flame 

 u.sed to illuminate the yard in front of a neighbor's farmhouse. 

 Occasionally, moths and beetles came flying pell-mell into the 

 flame, singeing their wings and precipitating them helplessly to 

 the ground. 



One night I saw one of these toads sitting motionless, with 

 its head rather high, watching intently for the insects when 

 they struck the ground. If some distance away from the 

 fallen insect he made several hops and soon snapped up his 

 prey with a precision of his tongue which was interesting to 

 observe. The size of its intended victim seemed to offer no 

 objection toward trying to swallow it. Once a large beetle, 

 such as I have shown in the initial illustration, was thus seized 

 and was of such a size that it stuck in Bufo's throat. Several 

 attempts were made to swallow it and after going through some 



