INSECTIVOROUS ANIMALS 285 



they hatch until they leave the water are preyed upon by 

 water beetles, dragon-fly larvae, newts, and possibly fishes. 

 The entire hatching of a pond may be thus destroyed. 

 Probably ducks feed upon both eggs and tadpoles in great 

 numbers. On leaving the water the little toads are at 

 the mercy of ducks, hens, and many insectivorous birds. 

 Crows and snakes, and many species of hawks and owls 

 feed upon the adults. In addition to those destroyed by 

 natural enemies many are killed by wheels of vehicles 

 and lawn mowers, and many more are trodden under foot 

 and burned in rubbish.^ 



The toad is known to possess something of a ** homing 

 instinct " ; so that if they are collected and put into a 

 garden, they immediately leave it, unless confined, in their 

 attempt to find their familiar haunts. It is also said that 

 the adults generally return to the pond in which they were 

 hatched, to lay their eggs. Both of these considerations, 

 coupled with the fact that it is difficult or impossible to 

 protect them from natural enemies in the ponds at large, 

 emphasize the advisability of each garden or farm raising 

 its supply in the easy manner suggested above. It is 

 work that any child can do and be the better and wiser 

 for doing, aside from any more material benefits that may 

 accrue, and these are likely to be by no means small. 



The criticism naturally arises that such artificial cul- 

 ture might result in a plague of toads. This is scarcely 



1 In looking over burned brush lands and weedy vacant lots, where the 

 leaves and rubbish have been burned in the spring, the writer has so often 

 found the charred bodies of toads that general attention should be called 

 to this matter. If this be done, common sense as well as humanity will 

 dictate that such burning should be done, when possible, either after the 

 ground freezes in the fall or before the frost comes out in the sprin^ 



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