CLASS lY. BATRACIIIA: ORDER 1. ANURA, 



411 



THE COMMON EUROPEAN TOAD. 



abroad at evening in search of insects, which they catch by darting out their long tongues with 

 the quickness of Ughtning. They swallow their food alive, and often their sides may be seen to 

 twitch with the tickling caused by a large beetle struggling in the stomach. During winter they 

 lie in a torpid state, concealed in holes and under stones. In the spring the female deposits her 

 eggs in immense numbers, which, instead of being inclosed in a gelatinous mass, as in the frogs, 

 are inclosed in a similar substance, but in long strings like necklaces. These are drawn out of 

 the body of the female by the hind-feet of the male. The process of development is similar to 

 that of the frogs. 



Genus BUFO : Bufo. — This includes the Common Toad of Europe, B. vulgaris : it is a 

 harmless animal, though its ungainly appearance has made it the subject of general aversion. 

 When it is about to feed, it remains motionless, fixing its eyes intently on its insect prey; when 

 the latter moves, the toad shoots forth its long tongue, quick as thought, and rarely fails to secure 

 the prize. It is well known that toads can live for a long time without food, and it has been 

 supposed also without air. Instances have occurred of these animals having been found imbed- 

 ded in indurated clay, the solid trunks of trees, and even in rocks, where it was believed they bad 

 remained for years, perhaps for ages ; yet, on being liberated, came fully to life. The general 

 opinion of scientific naturalists is, that these accounts are either untrue or inaccurate. They 

 believe that toads may subsist for a long time, perhaps for years, with very little food or air, 

 and that they may have been found apparently inclosed in solid substances, but that in point of 

 fact there was some crack or crevice through which they obtained air and small insects sufficient 

 to support life. 



The Natter-Jack Toad of Europe, B. calamita^ resembles the preceding in appearance : there 

 are also other foreign species, among which is the Accoucheur Toad, B. obstetricans, y/hich not 

 only assists the female in excluding her eggs, but attaches them afterward to his own hind-legs, 

 where the young are developed until they arrive at the tadpole state, when he visits the water 

 and they escape. This species is common in the vicinity of Paris. 



The Common American Toad, B. Amerkanus, clo.-iiely resembles the common toad of Europe, 

 and is found in the Northern, Middle, and Western States. In the South there are three or 

 four species ; the B. cognatus is found along the Upper Missouri. 



