Rana and Bufo. 183 



forth upon their pilgrimage. During a long drouth they 

 mysteriously disappear, but if a rain comes on they suddenly 

 come out by hundreds, and this has given rise to the tale of 

 a " shower of toads." 



Worms, as well as flies, etc., constitute a toad's bill of fare. 

 After a rain toads and worms, it would seem, are mutually 

 inspired to take their walks abroad, and many an unfortu- 

 nate worm makes its way into the toad's maw. Dead insects 

 are at a discount with him, and he views with suspicion any- 

 thing that shows not the active wriggling principle of life. 

 When winter comes on the toad, like the frog, goes into 

 winter-quarters. Since the young toad reaches its adult 

 size in the autumn, it is forced to pass the first period of its 

 grown-up life in a sleep, or coma, in some hole or burrow 

 which it has found or fashioned in the earth. Sometimes 

 toads creep into rock-crevices, or into hollows in logs and 

 trees, and being found in these places in the early spring are 

 hastily supposed to have been prisoners for many years. 



In the process of growth the skin of the toad, as well as 

 that of the frog, becomes too small, and hence is cast off. 

 As the shedding-time approaches, the white, green and 

 brown colors become dull, and a peculiar dryness appears. 

 A new skin is now forming under the outgrown one, and 

 presently the latter splits half down the middle of the back 

 and along the under part of the body. By a series of vio- 

 lent twitchings of the toad the old skin is made to wrinkle 

 and fold along the sides. A hind-leg is now tucked under a 

 fore-arm, and by a good pull the animal is soon out of that 

 leg of his trousers. The other leg is removed in similar 

 fashion. Putting one hand in his mouth and giving a jerk, 

 off comes the covering of that hand and arm, like a discarded 

 glove. He has now but to take off the other, and he is free. 

 Relieved of his dress he neither sells nor gives it away, but 

 rolls it up into a neat solid ball and swallows it. The frog 

 strips off and disposes of his outgrown skin in a similar 

 way. 



