CHAPTER XIV 



REPTILES 



COMMON FROG (Rana temporaria). Our experience of this fa- 

 miliar animal in a state of confinement is restricted to a fernery 

 under glass, where a three-legged one, with others, throve for 

 several years, the one with a leg cut off by a scythe in mowing 

 meadow grass, and named " Lord Raglan " it W 7 as the time of 

 the Crimean War being docile, making quick work of worms, 

 slugs, woodlice, etc., presented to it, and always in summer time 

 taking up a position beneath a water-tap, which was so left that 

 now and again water dropped on the frog's back, the animal so 

 placing itself that the water fell just behind the eyes and trickled 

 over the whole body. 



In gardens we have found frogs useful in destroying worms, 

 slugs, woodlice, insects and their larvae ; but frogs are more suited 

 to the semi-wild and wilderness side of nature rather than that of 

 cultivation, though this certainly profits by the decimation of pests 

 by frogs in rough places by ditches, etc. ; especially gnats. 



COMMON TOAD (Bufo vulgaris). The forester, farmer and gar- 

 dener has no better friend towards his crops than the despised toad, 

 for rambling at night in woodland, in field and in garden, it destroys 

 numbers of woodlice, millipedes, slugs, grubs and insects which hide 

 by day and come out at night to feed upon vegetation. The toad 

 also hides by day, and at dusk, or on dull days before rain, sallies 

 forth with cautious steps : .and dull, slow, heavy and ungainly as 

 it may appear, ranges over the ground snapping up pests then 

 come forth to banquet. In sight of prey the toad's look becomes 

 intent, its action hasty but cautious, and when within striking 

 distance the body is raised on the hinder feet, aim taken for' a 

 moment, and then the prey seems to suddenly spring into the 

 toad's mouth. It prefers woodlice as food, but feeds on slugs, 

 beetles and weevils, flies and moths, grubs and caterpillars, earth- 

 worms, etc. 



In most pleasure grounds and flower gardens toads find suitable 

 retreats for hiding by day and for hibernating in winter, such as 

 a hedge, neglected nook, rockery for ferns, or rockery for rock 

 plants. A toad-house, however, may need to be formed in some 

 cases where it is desired to introduce toads, and is readily formed 

 of stones, burrs, or butts of trees placed in an unobjectionable 

 situation. The material may be arranged on a bank or on a slight 



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