18-28 The Zoologist — September, J 869. 



tubercles having a sliglit tinge of brick-red ; the belly and under parts 

 of the thighs are dingy white, generally spotted irregularly and 

 sparingly with black. 



Toads vary considerably in size, and generally in accordance with 

 age and sex ; the oldest specimens are the largest, and females are 

 almost invariably larger than males of the same age: the average 

 length of a full-grown toad is 3j inches, but some specimens greatly 

 exceed this size, and there are varieties or races inhabiting Guernsey 

 and the Morea that are vastly superior to our English toads in mag- 

 nitude: I have possessed for three years a living Guernsey toad as 

 large as a moderate sized tea-saucer. 



The fiiod of toads seems to consist of all living animals that are 

 susceptil)le of being swallowed, but I have never seen a toad eat any 

 vegetable matter or any dead animal. Insects are ihe favourite food; 

 worms are occasionally eaten, and slugs more rarel}' : the oblong 

 ])ellets of excrement we so often find on our gravel-paths are deposited 

 by toads, and these prove that the principal food has been the 

 night-wandering beetles, — the elytra, thoracic case, and other hard 

 parts of which have passed undigested. 



Mr. Bell, in his invaluable work on British Reptiles, gives the follow- 

 ing account of the load's manner of feeding. "The load, when about 

 to feed, remains motionless with its eyes turned directly forwards upon 

 the object, and the head a little inclined towards it; and in this atti- 

 tude it remains until the insect moves ; when by a stroke like light- 

 ning ihe tongue is thrown forward U|)on the victim, which is instantly 

 drawn into the mouth. So rapid is this movement that it requires 

 some little practice, as well as close observation, to distinguish the 

 diflferent motions of the tongue. This organ is constructed as in the 

 frog, and the surface being imbued with a viscid mucous secretion, the 

 insect is secured by its adhesive quality. When the prey is taken 

 it is slightly ))ressed by the margins of the jaw ; but as this seldom 

 kills it, unless it be a soft tender larva, it is generally swallowed alive ; 

 and 1 have often seen the nuiscles of the toad's sides twitch in a very 

 curious manner, from the tickling movements of a haid coleopterous 

 insect in the stomach. It will also take earth-worms of a considerable 

 size, and it is a very curious sight to watch the manner in which the 

 povverfid and writhing worm is secured. If the toad happen to take 

 it by the middle, the extremities of the worm are twined with great 

 force and activity around the muzzle in every direction, in its attempts 

 to escape; but the toad pushes one portion after another into its 



