ORIGIN OF THE SILVER EEL. 43 



way, but its ova are deposited in lumps, not 

 in threads. The toad remains three or four 

 months in the water, swimming about as a 

 fish, until a foot springs out at each side of 

 the insertion of the tail, and one at each 

 side of the breast. After its limbs are fully 

 developed, it comes out of the water, and be- 

 gins to leap, and loses its tail for swimming. 

 I think it comes back to the water to spawn 

 in about two years, and continues to spawn 

 four or five years, while young ; at this age it 

 is an inch and three-quarters in breadth, and 

 three inches in length. It then gives up 

 spawning, and increases in size to three 

 inches in breadth, and four inches in length. 

 It does not change to neuter internally, I 

 believe, but acts as such externally, looking 

 out for the warmest place it can find, and 

 keeping away from the water at spawning 

 season. 



I wish the reader specially to note, that 

 as the result of close observation, I am of 

 opinion a very marked change takes place 

 in the animal's nature at this period, as well 

 as in its size. At the commencement of its 

 life, the fish nature predominates; after 



