TOADS. 337 
but it may be kept with other Toads of a similar size and of like 
habits. 2B. lentiyinosus is, when full grown, nearly 3in. in length 
from the nose to the vent. It has a smaller head in proportion to 
its size than the Common Toad; and its body is thickly covered 
with irregularly-shaped warts. On this Toad the tympanum is 
very distinct, and nearly as large as the eye; the first finger is 
longer than the second, and the toes are half-webbed. There is no 
fold on the ankle, but there are two metatarsal tubercles. The 
_ parotoids are rather large and kidney-shaped. The upper parts 
of the body are of a darkish-olive colour, marked with darker 
spots, and there is a V-shaped marking between the eyes. There 
is also, generally, a light streak running down the back. The 
under parts are either of a uniform light colour, or sprinkled with 
dark spots. This Toad has a very wide range in North America, 
where it is fairly common. It is frequently known as the 
“American Toad.”? There are several varieties. 
The Giant Toad (Bufo marinus) is probably the largest of all 
Toads. It measures sometimes more than 8in. from the snout to 
the vent. With proper care it will live fora very long time in 
confinement. It is recognised also as the Agua Toad. 
A very well-known specimen of the Giant Toad, the property 
of Dr. Stradling, was deposited for some years at the Reptile 
House, Zoological Gardens, London. ‘‘ Ambrose,” as he was 
called, died, I think, in 1891, when his owner wrote a “ brief 
memorial notice of his life.”” This very interesting article was 
published in the Boy’s Own Paper for January, 1892, and from 
which I venture to make one or two quotations. Concerning this 
famous Toad’s size, Dr. Stradling says, ‘‘that those. 
who never saw him in the flesh may be surprised to hear that he 
almost overlapped the margin when he settled down, flat, squat, 
and nearly circular in outline, on the crown of a man’s ‘box’ 
hat.” And in writing of the means of defence against 
carnivorous animals, which the toads of this species possess, 
the doctor remarks that “‘ these Giant Toads have a very poisonous 
perspiration. All Toads excrete this acrid fluid, but in those _ 
of the family to which Ambrose belonged it is, as you might 
expect, considerable in quantity and exceedingly virulent. Not 
_ that it would do you any harm, unless it got into a cut or 
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