AMPHIBIANS 283 



The Common Toad. — One of the nearest of the allies of the 

 frog is the common toad. The eggs, like those of the frog, are 

 deposited in fresh-water ponds, especially small pools. The egg- 

 laying season is later than that of the frog. The eggs are laid in 

 strings, as many as eleven thousand eggs having been laid by a 

 single toad. 



Field Work. — The egg-laying season in New York state is early May. 

 At this time procure a female that has not laid her eggs and phice her in aii 

 aquarium. If undisturbed, she may lay her eggs in captivity. Compare 

 the bulk of the eggs after they are laid with the size of the toad that laid 

 them. This apparent discrepancy is caused by the swelling of the gelati- 

 nous substance around them. If possible, count the number of eggs laid 

 by one female.^ 



Toad tadpoles may be distinguished from those of the frog, as 

 they are darker in color, and have a more slender tail and a rela- 

 tively larger body than those of the frog. The metamorphosis 

 occupies only about two months at the temperature of New York. 

 During the warm weather the tail is absorbed with wonderful 

 rapidity, and the change from a tadpole with no legs to that of 

 the small toad living on land is often accomplished in a few hours. 

 This has given rise to the story that it has rained toads in a given 

 locality, because during the night thousands of young toads have 

 changed habitat from the water to the land. 



The toad is of great economic importance to man because of its 

 diet. No less than eighty-three species of insects, mostly injurious, 

 have been proved to enter into the dietary.^ A toad has been ob- 

 served to snap up one hundred and twenty-eight flies in half an 

 hour. Thus at a low estimate it could easily destroy one hundred 

 insects during a day and do an immense service to the garden 

 during the summer. It has been estimated by Kirkland that a 

 single toad may, on account of the cutworms which it kills, be 

 worth $19.88 each season it lives. Toads also feed upon slugs 

 and other garden pests. 



Other Amphibians. — The tree frogs (called tree toads) are 

 familiar to us in the early spring as the peepers of the swamps. 

 They are among the earliest of the frogs to lay their eggs. During 



* See Hodge, Nature Study and Life. , , . ■ m j\ 



2 (See Kirkland, Habits, Food and Economic Importance of the American 1 oad.) 

 Bul. 46, Hatch Experiment Station, Amlierst, Mass. 



