624 JONATHAN RISSER 



of the lips was the only reaction seen after the toad swallowed 

 worms treated with this oil. 



Iodine, when taken into the mouth with the larvae seemed 

 to be more productive of discomfort than the oils did. The 

 larvae were not refused at any time during the trials, nor were 

 the substances deterrent because of the attendant odors. 



Jj.. Experiments with non-living food 



Some experiments were made to determine whether animal 

 food that gave no evidence of being alive would be taken by 

 the toad. In the feeding trials previous, only mealworms in 

 motion were used for food; no attempts to use inert worms 

 were made. Pupae of the mealworms were offered the toads. 

 When the pupae were first dropped into the cage, they often 

 made spasmodic motions, but these soon ceased. Sometimes 

 the toads took the pupae when thus in motion. Mealworm 

 larvae, freshly killed and motionless, were never taken. By 

 means of a delicate strand of silk threaded into a larvae, these 

 could be dragged over the bottom of the cage in a manner to 

 imitate partially the living condition. The toads could be 

 induced to snap up such larvae, and when once in the mouth 

 they were not rejected. Knauer (75) gives instances of the 

 rejection of decomposing earthworm. My experience was' to 

 the contrary. Bits of meat fashioned into semblance of meal- 

 worms when thus drawn past the toad, and taken into the mouth, 

 were not rejected. 



Dead flies also could be suspended and moved before the 

 toads. These were attractive to the toad even if abnormally 

 odorous. Artificial larvae were fed in a few instances to the 

 toads. These were made from absorbent cotton and paraffine, 

 and could be substituted for the living worms if set in motion 

 by means of the thread. 



Toad No. 1 swallowed two such false larvae in the course 

 of one trial. These false larvar were smeared with oil of clove 

 and iodine solution in different trials. 



