THE WARTY TOAD. 163 



in accounting for the fact, because the growth of wood over a wonndecl part is often extremely 

 rapid, and has been known to cause the inclosure of nails, tools, and even bii'ds' nests with 

 their eggs. Even in such a case, there is not sufficient evidence to prove that the closure was 

 absolutely perfect, and that the Toad was liermetically sealed in the wooden walls of its cell. 



Dr. Buckland made some experiments on this supposed property of the Toad, and inclosed 

 a number of these creatures in artitic^ial chambers, made to represent as nearly as possible the 

 rock and wood in which the imprisoned Toads have been found. None of these experiments 

 met with success ; and in those cases where the Toads lived longest, the plaster was found 

 imperfect. Some of the Toads whose cells were really air-tight died in a month or two. 



It may, however, be reasonably urged that such experiments do not fairly represent the 

 original conditions tinder which an animal could survive for so long a period, and that in 

 order to carry out the experiment in a consistent manner, the Toads ought to have been 

 procured when very young, inclosed in a chamber with a moderate aperture, and that aperture 

 lessened gradually, so as to prepare the creature by degrees for its long fast and deprivation 

 of air. For a good summary of this subject and a collection of almost every narrative, I may 

 refer the reader to Mr. Grosse'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 sei-ies of eggs placed alternately. 

 These chains are about three or four feet in length, and oue-eightli 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 larvje, do not assujne their perfect form until August or September. 

 The general color of the Toad is blackish-gray with an olive tinge, and the ttibercles which 

 stitd the surface are brown. Beneath, it is yellowish-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 j'ears. The length of a 

 very large specimen is about three inches and a half. 



The American Toad {Bufo lentiginosus) is exceedingly common in most parts of the 

 United States. This species is peculiar in that it varies in several respects. An average 

 specimen is abotit three inches in length, and two in breadth. Its general appearance is 

 sufficiently familiar. 



This humble appearing, and to some vicious, but perfectly harmless reptile, or batrachian 

 is regarded by American agriculturists as a valuable agent in suppressing certain damaging 

 insects. Five varieties are known. Sixty-seven species and varieties of Frogs and Toads ar^ 

 known in North America. 



Another species of Toad, the Natterjack, is found in many parts of Etirope. 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, hatmting dry places, and seldom approaching water 

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



The Green or Variable Toad {Bufo mridls, or variabilis) is rather a handsome species, 

 and is fotind plentifully in the South of France. It derives its poptilar 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 tiiberosus) 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 homy 

 spine in the centre. The glands on the back of the head are large and very conspictious. 

 Even the under parts are covered with tubercles, but withotit the spine in the centre. Above 



