352 



FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



Common American Toad 



ing at the entrance to its hole; and over there a 

 June-bug is laying its eggs in the ground. Master 

 toad comes along in circumspect fashion, opens his 

 cavernous mouth, and in three gulps swallows them 



all with a gurgle 

 of satisfaction. 

 Oh, but that was 

 good ! Now for 

 some more of the 

 same sort. 



"He continues 

 on his rounds, and 

 when dawn begins 

 to glimmer in the 

 east what kind of a hodge-podge of variegated 

 vermin must there not be in the glutton's capacious 

 maw? Yet they kill this useful creature — stone it 

 to death because, forsooth, it is not so handsome as 

 it might be. My children, may you never be guilty 

 of such cruelty, such f oolish and mischievous cruelty ! 

 Never stone the toad, for in doing so you would be 

 robbing the fields of a vigilant guardian. Let the 

 poor creature perform in peace its appointed task as 

 destroyer of worms and insects. 



"Finally, and not least of all, must be mentioned 

 the various birds, chiefly the little birds of our fields 

 and farm-yards, that help the farmer by devouring 

 harmful insects and the seeds of wild grasses and 

 intrusive weeds. These indefatigable assistants, 

 however, we have already discussed, and we have 

 gratefully acknowledged our indebtedness to them. 



