TADPOLE 



121 



older lungs begin to form. Why do the larger tadpoles come 

 to the top of the water once in a while, and after a moment, 

 wiggle back again ? Why do they make you think of wigglers ? 



A Tadpole's Changes. — Before school closes for summer 

 you may lind tadpoles with legs sprouting from their bodies. 

 Which sprout first, the hind legs or the fore legs ? 



Has a full-grown toad or frog a tail ? A tadpole's tail does 

 not drop off, but its substance is carried by the blood to feed 

 the growing legs. 



Some kinds of frog tad2:)oles remain tadpoles for over a year, 

 and do not change to frogs until the next summer. 



You may have seen a footpath or road covered with small 

 toads after a rain. Great numbers of toad tadpoles are 

 hatched in every pool. 

 In June or July they 

 become full-grown and 

 leave the water. They 

 lie in the shade on hot 

 days, but after a rain 

 they often swarm over 

 our paths and roads. 



What Toads eat. — 

 A toad is a friend to 

 the farmer, for it eats 

 many harmful bugs and 

 worms, and does no 



harm. Then, too, the toad eats mostly at night, when the bugs 

 are feasting and while the birds are asleep. 



Watch a toad some evening. If you are quiet and gentle, 

 it may dart out its tongue and catch a fly. 



Frogs and Toads in Winter. — When cold weather comes a 

 frog goes down deep into the mud, and a toad buries itself in 

 soft soil below frost. Both sleep through the winter, and in 

 early spring come out as lively as ever. You may know when 

 they have wakened, for they at once begin to use their voices. 



Full-grown Frog 



