i6S 



THE SAVANNAH CRICKET 



of almost 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 color of the Toad is blackish- gray with an 

 olive tinge, and the tubercles which stud the surface are brown. Beneath, it is yellow- 

 ish white, tinged with gray, 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 approach- 

 ing 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 Batrachians 

 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 

 colors in light and shade, sleep and wakefulness. 



The WARTY TOAD of Fernando Po (Bufo tuberbsus) 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 tuber- 

 cles, 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 fright- 

 ened 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 recognized by the great enlarge- 

 ment of the bone over the eyes, and the enormous dimensions of the glands behind the 

 head. Its color 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 

 disks on the toes, like those of the geckos. In the first family the toes are webbed, 

 and the processes of the vertebrae are cylindrical. A good example will be found in 

 the SAVANNAH CRICKET FROG of America. 



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

 large range 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, 



