BUFO. REPTILES. 367 



B. vulgaris, (R. bufo, Lin.) The Common Toad. Body reddish 

 or brownish gray, sometimes olive-coloured or blackish, the back 

 covered with rounded tubercles, those on the belly smaller and 

 closer together ; hind feet semipalmated. Inhabits Europe. B. 



This well-known animal is found in gardens, woods, and fields, and often makes 

 its way into cellars and other obscure places. It passes the winter in holes in a state 

 of torpidity. The female produces small eggs in very great numbers, united by 

 a transparent jelly in two strings, often twenty or thirty feet in length. The tadpole 

 is blackish, and its branchial opening is on the left. The toad lives about fifteen 

 years, and produces at four. The warts on its back exude an acrid fluid. 



B. calamila, Cuv. (R- mephitica, Shaw.) Body olive above, with 

 dark spots and reddish pustules ; a longitudinal yellow line along 

 the middle of the back. Inhabits Europe. Shaw, iii. pi. 43. 



This animal diffuses a mephitic odour, resembling the smoke of gunpowder. It 

 does nut leap, but runs very quickly ; climbs walls to creep into crevices ; and for 

 this purpose its fore-feet are furnished with two small osseous tubercles. It is not 

 found in water but in the breeding season. The male has a gular pouch. 



B. fuscus. Laurenti. (R. alliacea, Shaw.) Body clear brown, 

 marbled with deep brown or blackish; tubercles on-the back not 

 numerous, the size of lentils ; belly smooth ; hind feet with length- 

 ened and palmated toes. Germany, &c. Shaw, iii. pi. 41. 

 The eggs of this species are attached by a single string. The tadpole has but one 



branchial opening, on the left side. It has a strong garlic smell when irritated. 



B. bombinus, Cuv. (R. bombina, Gmel.) The Natter-jack. Body 

 grayish brown above ; blackish blue with orange yellow spots 

 below ; feet completely palmated, and almost as long as those of 

 the frog. Inhabits Europe. B Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. pi. 2. 



B. obsletricans, Laur. Body gray ; the tubercles on the back black- 

 ish ; whitish on the sides. Common in the neighbourhood of 

 Paris. Daud. pi. 32, fig. i. 



The male of this species assists the female to expel the eggs, which are attached 

 in clusters to the thighs by means of a glutinous matter. When about to be hatch- 

 ed, the animal seeks some stagnant water in which to deposit them. They soon 

 afterwards open, and the tadpole swims out. 



B. variabilis. (R. variabilis, Gm.) Body whitish, spotted with green; 

 remarkable for the changes of colour of its skin, according to the 

 light it is in, or as it wakes or sleeps. Found near Paris. Daud, 

 pi. 28. fig. 2. 



B. marinus. (R. marina, Gmel.) Body ash gray, irregularly spotted 

 with brownish ; warts large ; parotid glands large and gibbous. 

 8 or 10 inches long, without including the legs. Inhabits Guiana. 

 Shaw, iii. pi. 44. 



B. cornutus. (R. cornuta, Gmel.) The Horned Toad. Head and 

 jaws very large ; a conical tubercle above each eye. Inhabits 

 South America. Shaw, iii. pi. 48, 49. 



B. margaritiferus, (R. margaritifera, Gmel.) With an erect stiff 

 rounded lobe behind each eye, and numerous warts on the body, 

 bearing some resemblance to pearls ; hind feet semipalmated, 

 Daud. pi. 33. 



