toad is remarkable. It is a rule of nature that where the chance for 

 a species reaching maturity is small the fecundity is large, and this 

 rule is well illustrated in the case of the animal under discussion. The 

 writer once removed 1,279 eggs from a female toad which had already 

 commenced laying. The total egg production is better indicated by 

 the record of 7,587 and '11,545 eggs obtained from two toads by Dr. 

 C. F. Hodge, Clark University, Worcester, Mass., as recorded in his 

 book entitled "Nature Study and Life." 



Many stories are extant concerning the longevity of the toad. These 

 animals are said to have been found embedded in rocks, trees, masonr}^, 

 etc., thus indicating that it was possible for them to exist in dormant 

 condition for many yesirs. The writer has gone to some trouble to 

 investigate statements of this kind coming to his attention without 

 finding a single case where there was conclusive evidence of such a 

 prolonged dormant state. On the other hand, we have the experiment 

 of M. Herrisant, who in 1777 embedded three toads in plaster and 

 placed them in the archives of the French Academy of Sciences. At 

 the end of eighteen months two of the toads were still alive. In 1817 

 Doctor Edwards repeated this experiment, but submerged the plaster 

 blocks in water, with the result that all of the toads died. Buckland 

 buried toads in cavities in sandstone and limestone and found that all 

 the toads in sandstone were dead in thirteen months, while those in 

 limestone survived for nearly two 3^ ears. 



The toad has a strong "homing" instinct, and lives year after year 

 in the same locality. Convincing evidence has been furnished the 

 writer of two toads that have occupied dooryards in two different towns 

 for twelve and twenty-three years, respectively, while Mr. F. H. 

 Mosher, Westport, Mass., has positive knowledge of a toad which 

 occupied a certain feeding ground for at least eight years. In view 

 of these facts, there can be little doubt that the toad attains to a con- 

 siderable age. 



The belief that the toad is venomous probably arises from its habit, 

 when disturbed or roughly handled, of ejecting through the skin a 

 certain milky acrid fluid. No harm attends contact with the fluid on 

 the hands, but dogs attempting to bite toads show signs of discomfort, 

 and even distress, due to this acrid skin secretion. That the fluid is 

 not objectionable to all animals is shown by the avidity with which 

 certain hawks and owls capture and eat toads. 



It is not uncommon to find during the summer certain toads of much 

 brighter colors than their fellows. This is due to the casting or molt- 

 ing of the skin, which takes place several times annually. Previous 

 to molting, the toad seeks shelter and remains quiet for some time. 

 The skin then splits, peels off, or is removed by aid of the forelegs, 

 and is often eaten by the toad, which soon goes forth clad in fresher 

 colors. 



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