168 THE SAVANNAH CRICKET FROG. 



every narrative, I may refer the reader to Mr. Gosse's " Romance of Natural History," 

 second series. 



The development of the Toad is much like that of the Frog, except that the eggs are 

 not laid in masses but in long strings, containing a double series of eggs placed alter- 

 nately. These chains are about three or four feet in length, and one-eighth of an inch in 

 diameter. They are deposited rather later than those of the Frog, and the reptiles, which 

 are smaller and blacker than the Frog larvae, do not assume their perfect form until August 

 or September. The general colour of the Toad is blackish-grey with an olive tinge, and 

 the tubercles which stud the surface are brown. Beneath, it is yellowish white, tinged 

 with grey, and in some specimens spotted with black. The full size of the Toad is not 

 well ascertained, as it seems to have almost unlimited capacities for increasing in size 

 together with years. The length of a very large specimen is about three inches 

 and a half. 



ANOTHER species of Toad, the NATTERJACK, is found in many parts of England. It may 

 be known from the common species by the short hind-legs, the more prominent eyes, the 

 less webbed feet, the yellow line along the middle of the back, and the black bands on the 

 legs. It is not so aquatic as the common Toad, haunting dry places, and seldom approaching 

 water except during the breeding season. Its ordinary length is about three inches. 



The GREEN or VARIABLE TOAD (Bufo viridis) is rather a handsome species, and is 

 found plentifully in the south of France. It derives its popular names from the large 

 spots of deep green with which its upper surface is adorned. Many of the Batrachiai^ 

 possess the capability of changing their hues according to locality or through mental emotion, 

 and the Green Toad is extremely conspicuous in this respect, wearing different colours in 

 light and shade, sleep and wakefulness. 



The WARTY TOAD of Fernando Po (Bufo tuberosus) is a singular looking species, 

 remarkable for the extreme development of the hard tubercles on the back, and being 

 among Batrachians analogous to the moloch among lizards, or the porcupine among 

 mammalia. The whole upper surface of the body is thickly covered with large tubercles, 

 each having a horny spine in the centre. The glands on the back of the head are large 

 and very conspicuous. Even the under parts are covered with tubercles, but without the 

 spine in the centre. Above each eyelid is a group of horny tubercles, so that the creature 

 presents a most remarkable appearance. Its length is about three inches. 



OUR last example of these creatures is the large AGUA TOAD of America (Bufo agua). 



This large species digs holes in the ground, and resides therein. It is one of the 

 noisiest of its tribe, uttering a loud snoring kind of bellow by night and sometimes by day, 

 and being so fond of its own voice that even if taken captive it begins its croak as soon as 

 it is placed on the ground. It is very voracious, and as it is thought to devour rats, has 

 been imported in large numbers from Barbadoes into Jamaica, in order to keep down the 

 swarms of rats that devastate the plantations. When these creatures were first set loose 

 in their new home, they began to croak with such unanimous good- will that they frightened 

 the inhabitants sadly, and caused many anxious householders to sit up all night. 



This Toad grows to a great size, often obtaining a length of seven inches, and nearly 

 the same measurement in breadth. It may be recognised by the great enlargement of the 

 bone over the eyes, and the enormous dimensions of the glands behind the head. Its colour 

 is extremely variable. 



WE now come to the Tree-Frogs, or Tree-Toads, so called from their habits of climbing 

 trees, and attaching themselves to the branches or leaves by means of certain discs on the 

 toes, like those of the geckos. In the first family the toes are webbed, and the processes 

 of the vertebras are cylindrical. A good example will be found in the SAVANNAH CRICKET 

 FROG 01 America. 



This species is very common in its own country, and is found throughout a very large 

 rarge of territories, specimens in the collection of the British Museum having been taken 

 from several Northern and Southern States of America. It is a light, merry little animal* 



