Rana and Bufo. 183 
forth upon their pilgrimage. During a long drouth they 
mysteriously disappear, but if a rain comes on they suddenly 
come out by hundreds, and this has given rise to the tale of 
a “shower of toads.” 
Worms, as well as flies, etc., constitute a toad’s bill of fare. 
After a rain toads and worms, it would seem, are mutually 
inspired to take their walks abroad, and many an unfortu- 
nate worm makes its way into the toad’s maw. Dead insects 
are at a discount with him, and he views with suspicion any- 
thing that shows not the active wriggling principle of life. 
When winter comes on the toad, like the frog, goes into 
winter-quarters. Since the young toad reaches its adult 
size in the autumn, it is forced to pass the first period of its 
grown-up life in a sleep, or coma, in some hole or burrow 
which it has found or fashioned in the earth. Sometimes 
toads creep into rock-crevices, or into hollows in logs and 
trees, and being found in these places in the early spring are 
hastily supposed to have been prisoners for many years. 
In the process of growth the skin of the toad, as well as 
that of the frog, becomes too small, and hence is cast off. 
As the shedding-time approaches, the white, green and 
brown colors become dull, and a peculiar dryness appears. 
A new skin is now forming under the outgrown one, and 
presently the latter splits half down the middle of the back 
and along the under part of the body. By a series of vio- 
lent twitchings of the toad the old skin is made to wrinkle 
and fold along the sides. A hind-leg is now tucked under a 
fore-arm, and by a good pull the animal is soon out of that 
leg of his trousers. The other leg is removed in similar 
fashion. Putting one hand in his mouth and giving a jerk, 
off comes the covering of that handand arm, likea discarded 
glove. He has now but to take off the other, and he is free. 
Relieved of his dress he neither sells nor gives it away, but 
rolls it up into a neat solid ball and swallows it. The frog 
strips off and disposes of his outgrown skin in a similar 
way. 
