////. H.I/;/-} TOAD, I-. . 



in accounting fi>r the fact, U<cauae the growth of wood over a wounded part i- often extremely 

 rapid, ami ha- Ut-ii kii.\vu t.. cans.- the incl.i-ure of nails, tools, and oven birds' nest* 

 their eggs. Kv en ju such a owe, there is not -uili. i.-nt evidence t<i prove that the closure was 

 absolutely :'. ..n : "..i' ", flo ' *'as hermetically. - :il.-<l in I !( -A.., M|, ,, : ,|U ,,f ii- ,-. I, 



Mr. Hiicklan<l nia.l. some . \ |..-iiiiients on iliis sup|>osed pm|>erty <>f tin-Toad, nnl inclosed 

 a number of futures in artificial clumilMM .. i .'present tut nearly aa possible the 



nck ami \VO<H| in \\lii.-h tin- imprison. -.| Toads lia\f IH-.-II found. Nme of these experiments 

 in. -t uiili -ii.-ce-s; and in those oases where the Toads lived longest, the piaster was found 

 imjH'ifect. Some of tin- Toads whose cells were really air tight died in a month or two. 



It may. ho\\i-\t-r. lie reasonably urged that Midi e\|-iiin.-iiis ,).. not fairly n-pii-x-nt the 

 original c<>n<litions under which an animal could >urvi\.- for >*, lung u JMTJCM!, and that in 

 to .-.Hi \ <>iit the experiment in a ...n-i-i.-ni maiiiii-r. in.- Toada ought to hare been 

 wlu-ii \t-ry xminy. in<-lo--<l in a cliatnlx-r with a imxlfrate a|M>rtun', and that ajnTtun- 

 leasened gradually, so a* to pp-jur.- tin- cn-atnii' 1>\ di-^res for ita long fast and deprivation 

 of air. Fora g<xxl sutnuiary of this snltji-t and a collation of alnnt rverj narniliv.-, I may 

 n-f.-r tin- n-ad.T ! Mr. (TOSS-'S " |{oiuaiic<- of Natural Hi-tory." >.-<-ond --ries. 



Tin- ih-vi-lojimt-nt of tin- Toad is much liki- thai >>f tin- l-'ro.i:. .-\i-i-pt that the eggs are not 

 laid in ma--.-. lit in l..n_' -nin--. containing a double series of eggs placed alternately. 

 Tli--- chain- an- alxmt Mint- or four f-<-t in Iriiirth. and one-eighth of an inch in diaiin-l<T 

 Tln-y are deposit-d nitli.-r latT than thos.- of th- Froir. and tin- n-ptilfs, which arc smaller and 

 blacker than tin- Krir larva-, do not assume their jn-rfei-t form until August or September. 

 111.' i^-ni-ral color of the Toad is blackish gray with an olive tinge, and the tuU-rcles which 

 Mud the -urface an bmwn. liem-.itli. it is yellowish-white, tingisl with gray, and in some 

 -|M-cim.-n- -|.<itte<l with black. The full six' of the Toad is not well ascertained, as it seems to 

 have almost unlimited capacities for increasing in si/e together with years. The length of a 

 large s|>ecimen is alnmt tlm-*' inches and a half. 



The American Toad (Btifo fc////'./////*.v//.vi is exceedingly common in most jxirts of the 

 I'nited Stat4-s. This species is peculiar in that it varies in several n-s|M-<-t-. An average 

 -pr.-im.-n is about three inches in length, and t\\o in bn>adth. Its general appearance is 

 sufficiently familiar. 



This humble ap]>cariiig. and to some \ irioiis, but jn'rf^-tly harmless n-jitile, or batrachian, 

 is regarded by American agriculturist- ;i- a \aluable aireiii in suppressing certain damaging 

 insects. Five varieties are known. Sixty-seven specie* and varieties of Frogs and Toads are 

 known in North America. 



AWOTHER species of Toad, the NATTERJACK, is fonnd in many parts of Enrope. It may 

 be known from the common species by the short hind-legs, the niop- prominent eyes, the less 

 webbed feet, the yeilow line along the middle of the back, and tin- black bands on the legs. 

 It is not so aquatic as tin- rommon Toad, haunting dry places, and seldom approaching water 

 except during the biv.-ding season. Its ordinary lenirth is about thn-e inches. 



TIIK (JKKKN or VAKIABLK TOAD (Df<> //'/////*. or //// /V/A/7/.vi is rather a handsome species, 

 and is found plentifully in the South of France. It derives its jxipular names from the large 

 spots of deep green with which its i,pj>er surface is adorned. Many of the Batrachians possess 

 the capability of clianirini: their hues according to locality or through mental emotion, and the 

 Green Toad is extremely con-pinions in this respect, wearing difTen-nt colors in light and 

 shade, sleep ami wakefulneas. 



Tin U'AKTY TOAD of Fernando Po (Bnf<. /////<//*) is a singular looking species, 

 nMuarkable for the extreme development of the hard tulterrles on the back, and being among 

 Batrachians analogous to the molorh among lizards, or the ]M>r>-upine among mammalia. The 

 whole upper surface of the Ixxly is thickly covered with large tubercles, each having a horny 

 spine in the -ntre. The glands on the back of the head are large and very conspicuous. 

 Even the under parts are covered with tubercles, but without the spine in the centn-. Above 



