THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1895. 



small pieces of rock. So we have one 

 dark, rocky, and one clear side of the 

 aquarium, in which goldfish, eels, small 

 cat and sunfishes, turtles and salaman- 

 ders live together in perfect harmony. 

 On top of the aquarium rises a straight 

 line of glass resting on a tin frame, 

 roof-like, but open at the top, fourteen 

 inches high ; glass plates, six inches 

 wide, laid across the ends of the aqua- 

 rium, form the bottom of the terra 

 rium. Both glass plates are united by 

 a rustic bridge made of oak bark. One 

 of the glass plates is covered with 

 sand, in which small melocactus are 

 planted ; it resembles a dreary desert 

 with a few rocks, a good place for 

 lizards. The opposite glass plate, and 

 part of the bridge, is quite the con- 

 trary ; luxuriant moss, with ferns shad- 

 ing a rocky cave, are peopled with 

 snails and young toads, who, however, 

 venture sometimes over to the minia- 

 ture " Sahara" in search of flies which 

 assemble there in numbers, as sugar is 

 spread on the sand. The roof-like 

 structure prevents the inhabitants of 

 the terrarium from escaping. Z. 



THE TOAD AND ITS HABITS. 



Formerly the toad was considered a 

 venomous reptile, but in our day its 

 habits have been more carefully ob- 

 served, and its great value to the pomol- 

 ogist and gardener has been fully estab 

 lished on account of its propensity for 

 destroying insects, especially those 

 injurious to vegetation. We should, 

 therefore, sedulously cultivate the 

 friendship and crave the assistance of 

 the insectivorous reptiles, including 

 the striped snakes, as well as that of 

 birds. 



Every tidy housewife detests the 

 cockroach, mice and other vermin. 



Two or three domesticated toads would 

 keep the coast clear of these, and be 

 found more desirable than a cat, as 

 they are wholly free from trespassing 

 on the rights of man as the cat does. 

 The toad is possessed of a timid and re- 

 tiring nature, loving dark corners and 

 shady places, but under kind treat- 

 ment becoming quite tame. 



Many incidents may be cited of pet 

 toads remaining several years in a fam- 

 ily, and doing valuable service with no 

 other compensation than immunity 

 from persecution. All that is neces- 

 sary to secure their co-operation in door 

 or out, is to provide them with cool 

 and safe retreats by day, convenient 

 access to water, and they will go forth 

 to the performance of their nocturnal 

 duties "without money and without 

 price." 



In Europe the toads are carried to 

 the cities to market, and purchased by 

 the horticulturists, who, by their aid, 

 are enabled to keep in check the multi- 

 plication of the insect tribes which prey 

 upon fruits, flowers, etc. 



No one can study the anatomy of this 

 reptile without being convinced of its 

 perfect adaptation to the sphere which 

 it fills in the economy of nature. Its 

 tongue, which is capable of great elon- 

 gation, is attached to the anterior vjor- 

 tion of the lower jaw ; its free end 

 when the toad is in repose, reaching 

 down to the borders of the stomach. 

 The moment the toad sees its prey 

 its eyes sparkle, its toes twitch, and 

 quicker than the eyes can follow, the 

 insect is transfixed and conveyed to the 

 stomach of the captor. 



It has been definitely settled that 

 fishes do not hear. They/ee/ the vibra- 

 tions caused by certain sounds. 



