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PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY 



four times its stomach capacity." This capacity may be judged 

 from the fact that sixty-five gypsy-moth caterpillars have been 

 found in one stomach, fifty-five army worms in another, and 

 seventy-seven thousand-legged worms in a third. 



One method, therefore, of ridding a garden or an estate of 

 injurious insects is to establish a number of toads in it. In 



FIG. 186. American toad. (Photo, of living anim 



:nport.) 



England and France toads are purchased for this purpose. This 

 method will certainly be successful, but it is far better to spread 

 the knowledge of the toad's real status and thus prevent the 

 destruction of these beneficial creatures. 



Toads become strongly attached to one locality and will re- 

 turn to it year after year at the end of the breeding season. 

 In the spring they migrate to the nearest body of water in which 

 to lay their eggs. A toad lays about ten thousand eggs, almost 

 all of which hatch. The tadpoles are destroyed by birds, fish, 

 and large water insects, so that only a few ever have a chance to 

 change into toads. Those that do succeed in reaching the 

 adult stage should certainly be protected. 



