The American Toad 



has been accumulated in the mouth, the toad proceeds to swallow 

 it with much effort. The eyes above and the throat below are 

 compressed convulsively several times, then the cavernous mouth 

 is slowly opened and shut, again and again. Finally, the discom- 

 fort seems past. The alert look, which tells that the toad is again 

 awake to his surroundings with all their possibilities, comes back 

 to the bright eyes; the erect position is resumed; the wet skin 

 dries; the colour darkens, and our toad is quite himself again. 



The process of moulting may easily be observed in the old 

 toads in July and August after they have left the ponds and taken 

 up their places in the garden or field. On the whole, this is one of 

 the best seasons for getting acquainted with the toad. He is very 

 hungry indeed, for in his arduous life at the pond he has fasted to 

 some extent. He still retains in a measure his desire to sing. He 

 often sits with throat partially distended. (Fig. 45.) Sometimes 

 in the early night he sings.' His voice is feebler, but not less 

 sweet than it was a month or more ago. 



Hold the toad gently in your hand, so that his hind feet are 

 without support, and hear him " talk." He is annoyed, and 

 demands to be released. His tone is not irritated, however. It 

 is, instead, a gentle chirping sound that reminds one of a newly- 

 hatched chicken, only that the voice is sweeter. See! the throat 

 puffs out and the trilled note is given while the toad is in your very 

 hand. He twists his head about and looks at you brightly. He 

 pushes with his hands, and wiggles his feet in a helpless fashion. 

 All the time he is " talking" — the chirping notes coming thick 

 and fast, while his throat and sides are vibrating rapidly. Again 

 the throat is extended and the musical trill is continued for a 

 few seconds, leaving you elated that you have heard, but with a 

 sense of loss that the sound is so short-lived. 



The throat-pouch is a single sac with air entering it from the 

 mouth through two slits. These slits are on the floor of the mouth, 

 at each side of the forward end of the tongue. The air enters the 

 mouth through the nostrils; the mouth is kept closed. The toad 

 can give voice to its call under water with nostrils and mouth both 

 closed. In this case the air passes back and forth from throat-sac 

 to lungs over the vocal cords in the throat. When the call is given 



' I have heard this feeble note of the toad in August only some half-dozen times. WTien I first 

 heard it (the toads were under observation in " moss gardens " in the house), I accredited it to the 

 snowy tree-cricket, whose voice is so familiar a sound during August evenings. 



75 



