TOAD.' I 5t)i 



softly towards its prey in the manner of a cat towards a mouse, 

 and when at the proper distance, seizing it with a sudden spring, 

 frequently of more than a foot in height. It often suspends itself to 

 the under parts of the leaves, thus continuing concealed beneath 

 their shade. Its size is smaller than any other European frog, ex- 

 cept the fire-frog. Its colour on the upper parts is green, more or 

 less bright in different individuals ; the abdomen is whitish, and 

 marked by numerous granules ; the under surface of the limbs is 

 reddish, and the body marked on each side by a longitudinal black- 

 ish or violet-coloured streak. The body is smooth above, and mo- 

 derately short ; the hind legs are very long and slender ; the 

 fore feet have four and the hind feet five toes, all of which termi 

 nate in rounded, flat, and dilated tips, the under surface of which, 

 being soft and glutenous, enables the animal to hang with perfect 

 security from the leaves of trees, &c. The skin of the abdomen is 

 also admirably calculated by nature for this peculiar power of ad- 

 hesion, being covered with small glandular granules, in such a 

 manner as to fasten closely even to the most polished surface; and 

 the animal can adhere at pleasure to that of glass, in whatever posi- 

 tion or inclination it is placed, by merely pressing itself against it. 



Though the tree-frog inhabits the wootjs, during the summer 

 months, yet on the approach of winter it retires to the waters, and 

 there submerging itself in the soft mud, or concealing itself beneath 

 the banks, remains in a state of torpidity, and again emerges in the 

 spring, at which period it deposits its spawn in the waters, like the 

 rest of this genus. During their residence among the trees, they 

 are observed to be particularly noisy on the approach of rain ; so 

 that they may be considered, in some measure, as a kind of living 

 barometers ; more especially the males, which, if kept in glasses, 

 and supplied with proper food, will afford an infallible presage of 

 the changes of the weather. 



a. Toad. 

 Rana bufo. Linn. 



Of all the European toads, this seems to be the most universally- 

 known : at least, in its complete or perfect form. It f is found in 

 gardens, woods, and fields; and frequently makes its way into cel- 

 lars, or any obscure recesses in which it may occasionally conceal 

 itself, and where it may find a supply of. food, or a security from 



VOL.V. 2 o 



