l66 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



catalogue of differences to enable the reader to discriminate 

 between the two. So well-known are both amphibians to sight 

 that the majority of persons know them by their correct names 

 on a casual glance ; yet we have met many who confuse them, 

 and for this minority it is well to give some of the Toad's 

 points. 



He has a flatter back than the Frog, the bones of the pelvis 

 not producing so sharp an angle ; and the hind legs are not so 

 long in proportion to the body, only slightly exceeding the 

 length of head and body, whereas in the Frog they are one and 

 a half times that length. The Toad seems more solidly built 

 than the Frog, with broader head, shorter limbs, and in general 

 aspect is closer to the earth, a heavier, more grovelling creature 

 than the vaulting Frog. This earthliness is accentuated by 

 the texture and colour of his skin. Instead of the moist and 

 shining, bright-coloured coat of the Frog we have a dry, dull, 

 pimply skin so strongly resembling the earth that he is 

 frequently passed by as a lifeless clod. That is one of the 

 Toad's strong points ; and he has the patience to squat motion- 

 less for hours, tiring out any enemy that looks for movement 

 as proof of life. He is too heavy to take a leap ; instead he 

 progresses by very short jumps on all four feet which give the 

 impression of being accomplished only by a great effort. But 

 he rises alertly to his full quadrupedal height when he is 

 considering the best way to negotiate a worm. 



The colour of the Toad varies a good deal according to the 

 nature of the soil upon which he happens to live. It is usually 

 some tint of brown or grey, but the brown may be almost red 

 in sandpits, a rich brown or a dirty brown ; the grey may be 

 light or with an olive tinge or a sooty hue that may pass as 

 black. As he is only active in the evenings and at night, any 

 of these tints serve to render him inconspicuous in the general 

 duskiness. Even his bright eyes, being coppery red in colour, 

 do not serve to draw attention to him. 



