RErilLKS OF douj^et. 99 



mncli lu'lp toAvards lids. The Toad is aljvuulaiit in Dorset, as also, 

 I believe, in most other counties. 



BUFO CALAMITA. 



Natter- Jack Toad. Bell's British Reptiles, p. 126. 



Though recognizable at a glance as a " Toad," the Natter- 

 jack is more readily distinguished from the common toad 

 by a pale central longitudinal dorsal line. It is much more 

 local than the common toad, but where found it is often, 

 I believe, more abundant. I liave myself only met with it 

 in Dorsetshire, in and about a pond on Bloxworth Heath, 

 where, about the year 1850, it was very plentiful. In 

 Lancashire, in and near the numerous ponds among the sand 

 hills between Is^orth jMeols, Southport, and Forniby, I met 

 with it in great abundance. Its croaking at night was very 

 remarkable, being only a second, though, perhaps, rather feeble 

 edition of that of tlie Edihh frog (Rana esculentaj, whose uproar 

 robbed me of several nights' much-needed rest when living in a 

 tent between Jaffa and Jerusalem in 18G5. I cannot speak from 

 experience about all of them, but I fancy most of this group are 

 noted for tenacity of life ; at any rate this is so with the Natter- 

 jack, as the following instance sliows : Having a case of stutTed 

 Herons and other wading birds in course of preparation at the late 

 Mr. Richard Rolls', at Weymouth, I decided to add some Natter- 

 jacks to it to make it more in keeping with the general aspect of 

 the situation affected by the birds ; so from the pond on the heath 

 above mentioned I procured about a dozen Natter-Jack toads and 

 not being aware of any special methods of despatch, administered 

 to each several smart blows with a walking stick, on which they 

 quivered strongly, slowly stretched out their limbs, and became 

 rigid, as though dead ; as indeed, I concluded them to l)e. I 

 congratulated myself on the simplicity and etllciency of my 

 method, and at once packed them in moss and sent them off 

 with in.structions as to the stuffing and disposing them in 

 the case. Some time after, calling at Mr. Rolls' shop to sec the 



