CH. VIIl] FROGS, TOADS, AND NEWTS 295 



occurrence than the common toad but has been found in 

 many parts of England and also in Scotland. It frequents 

 sandy heaths, especially such as are swampy in places. 

 I have found it among the heather on the commons in 

 south-west Surrey. It is more brightly coloured than 

 the common toad and may be at once distinguished by 

 the possession of a yellow line down the middle of the 

 back. It also has several blotches of pinkish-red colour 

 upon the back and sides, especially in the anterior regions 

 and numerous small pale yellow specks. The eyes are 

 very prominent and the skin closely covered with warts. 

 The male possesses a large median vocal sac beneath the 

 floor of the mouth. On opening the skin the surface of 

 the sac is seen to be deeply pigmented. There are two 

 slit-like apertures in the floor of the mouth by which air 

 can be forced into the sac. The voice of this toad, when 

 reinforced by this resonator, is extraordinarily powerful. 

 A number in chorus can be heard for about half a mile 

 across open country. If one toad begins to croak the cry 

 is quickly taken up by all its neighbours. I have also 

 noticed that the " laugh " of the great green woodpecker 

 will often start them croaking. The webbing of the toes 

 is even less pronounced than in the common toad. It is, 

 for a toad, extraordinarily active, running with considerable 

 speed, but seldom if ever jumping. It resorts to the water 

 only in the breeding season, which occurs in May and 

 June. The spawn is in ropes, resembling that of the 

 common toad. 



While the animals are in the water during the breeding 

 season the lungs are maintained in a state of remarkable 



