WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



to the garden plants, and his sides bulge more 

 and more as he waddles on. He makes his 

 way under the plants, first between the brussels- 

 sprouts, then up the broad bean row, next 

 through the lettuces, slugs and grubs getting 

 less at every step, imtil, the night's work 

 completed, he turns his steps for home. The 

 dawn finds him at the entrance to his den, his 

 sides so swollen with good things that he can 

 hardly squeeze down the narrow hole wherein 

 he will lie, and perhaps dream, all day. 



Not only has each toad its own home, but 

 it sticks to that den and its own particular 

 hunting ground for the greater part of the year. 

 It knows its beat as well as we know the 

 districts round our homes, and it makes its 

 rounds regularly every night as long as the 

 weather is mild. With the chill days of 

 autumn a change comes over the toad ; it is no 

 longer inclined to wander abroad, and retreats 

 farther into its burrow, actually burying itself 

 if the ground is soft enough to let it sink itself 

 in. Thus protected from frost and snow, it 

 can sleep in peace until the return of warm 

 weather awakens it to activity once more. 

 Probably the real reason of its winter sleep is 

 the difficulty of getting food rather than any 

 102 



