SPRING PRACTICE IN ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY. 



23 



that the young may establish themselves where they are wanted. 

 A shallow pool of cement, having a small but constant water supply 

 is sufficient, and the old toads should be carried to it at mating time, 

 which in this latitude comes in April and May. Stagnant water is 

 better than running water from the standpoint of the toad raiser. 

 The young toads will leave the water by midsummer, or before 

 mosquitoes become abundant, and the pool should then be drained 

 to prevent mosquito breeding. A small indoor aquarim, protected 

 from mosquitos by screens, may prove more satisfactory than an 

 outdoor pool. Supply with fresh-water plants and clams, and feed the 

 creatures with bits of dog biscuit or chopped fresh meat as needed. 

 Do not feed more of any food than the toads and tadpoles will con- 

 sume, or the water will become contaminated. The outdoor pool can 

 be screened against mosquitoes, if desired, provided the toads are 

 fed. 



For garden shelters, make shallow holes in the ground and 

 cover with flat stones or boards. The toads will retire into these in 

 the daytime and come forth at dusk for their nightly forays. Toads 

 are specially valuable to greenhouse men, keeping down slugs, 

 snails, sowbusrs thousand-legged worms, plant lice, ctitworms, etc. 



PLATE 1. 

 ti Qarc'en Toad. The Gardener's Friend. 



Photo bjf Good-win. 



