THE COMMON TOAD. 121 



his old neighbourhood around the house, but he was nowhere 

 to be found, and this time I gave him up for lost. Four 

 days after, what was my surprise, whilst seated at supper, to 

 see Toady come tumbling heels over head down the step 

 into the room, on a visit to his old friends. The most re- 

 markable feature in this last freak is, the circuitous route he 

 must have taken before he arrived, and the obstacles he must 

 have encountered in his way.* 



Toads, as well as frogs, are insectivorous ; and 

 it is curious to observe how, by means of their 

 folded tongue, they rapidly catch and appropriate 

 any small insects which may come in their way. 

 Large beetles and earthworms occasion them 

 much more trouble, sometimes annoyance. 



Mr. Holland, in narrating his experiences with 

 toads, gives an excellent illustration of their 

 mode of feeding : 



My toads, two in number, had lived for a year or two in 

 a hothouse which was devoted to the growth of pineapples. 

 They were, I think, first placed there purposely by the gar- 

 dener, who found them very useful in destroying insects. I 

 used very frequently to visit the place and amuse myself 

 with feeding the toads with worms, and with watching their 

 habits. The heat of the place, which was considerable, did 

 not seem to inconvenience them in the least, for they were 

 remarkably active, and of a large size ; but at the same time 

 they seemed greatly to enjoy the artificial showers when the 

 plants were syringed, and would come out from their hiding- 

 places to be rained upon. They usually remained amongst 



Science Gossip, vol. i. p. 12. 



