Snakes and Frogs and Their Relatives 



[227 



TRUTH AND FICTION ABOUT TOADS 



There is no truth in the quaint superstition that "It rains toads" and that "toads 

 cause warts." The truth about toads is interesting enough for example, a toad 

 eats its skin after shedding it; it "drinks" by absorbing moisture through its skin; 

 and it digs holes with its hind feet, retreating into one of these hideouts on the 

 approach of enemies. It stays in concealment by day, becomes active at night. 



With both of these amphibians protective coloration is special- 

 ized to the point of transforming color tone to blend with the 

 background. A toad also has a clever way of disappearing. Instead 

 of squatting where it can easily be seen, it kicks backward until 

 its body is covered with earth. At the approach of an enemy, the 

 load quickly jerks its head back letting earth tumble over its 

 head as well. 



The toad also knows how to become inconspicuous by flatten- 

 ing out its body and, when actually trapped, it will "play dead." 



