190 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
May 26. Rudiments of hind limbs discernible. 
30. Hind limbs perfectly formed in minia- 
ture and measure ;§; inch in length. 
The tadpoles are now brownish and 
show tracessOb SpOtse a.f noe cs Length 125; inches 
June 4. Hind limbs 3 inch long. 
5 
ce ae 4 ce ce 
ee oe ce 
16 
2, fully developed= 7s. \ a2... 2 bs i} x 
“44. Front limbs break through operculum. 
‘16. Absorption of tail rapidly taking place. 
‘18. Tail nearly absorbed; voung toads leaving the water. 
20. Metamorphosis complete; surrounding meadows teeming 
with perfectly developed toads measuring {4 inch (body). 
The full-grown tadpole of the Toad and the perfectly de- 
veloped creature as it leaves the water, are much smaller than 
the frog tadpole, which usually attains a length of three and 
one quarter inches before growth of the hind limbs begins, 
while the perfect frog generally measures an inch or more when 
it becomes fitted for semi-aquatic life. The tiny toads fall a prey 
to many enemies, and but a small proportion of their numbers 
attains maturity. Full growth is reached in about three years. 
The Spadefoot Toad, Scapliopus holbrooki Harlan (Fig. 17), 
is moderate in size. In form it is very stout, with wide, blunt 
head. Color, dark brown, or ashy-brown, with two 
rather indistinct bands of paler shade on the back; 
these bands begin behind the eyes and extend in wavy 
or irregular fashion to the end of the body, where they run 
together. 
Although the skin is rough and is covered with numerous 
raised points, 1t presents a smoother surface than that of the 
Common Toad. The parotid gland (behind the eye), though 
well-developed and very pronounced, is of smaller size in pro- 
portion to the individual than that of the Common Toad. 
On the inner portion of the under surface of the hind foot 
there is a hard, spade-like process, tinged at the edge with deep 
black. From this appendage the creature derives its name. 
The hind foot is fully webbed. The pupil of the eye is elliptical 
Spadefoot 
Toad. 
