Batrachian Stiidy 189 



7. Describe the legs and feet. How many toes are there? What is 

 the relative length of the toes and how are they connected? What is this 

 web between the toes for? Why are the hind legs so much larger than 

 the front legs? 



8. Will a toad change color if placed upon different colored objects? 

 How long does it take it to do this? Of what advantage is this to the 

 toad? 



9. Where does the toad live? When it is disturbed how does it act? 

 How far can it jump? If very frightened does it flatten out and lie still? 

 Why is this? 



10. At what time does the toad come out to hunt insects? How does 

 it catch the insect? Does it swallow an earthworm head or tail first?. 

 When swallowing an earthworm or large insect, how does it use its 

 hands? How does it act when swallowing a large mouthful? 



11. How does the toad drink? Where does it remain during the day? 

 Describe how it burrows into the earth. 



12. What happens to the toad in the winter? What does it do in 

 the spring? Is it a good swimmer? How does it use its legs in swimming? 



13. How does the toad look when croaking? What sort of a noise 

 does it make? 



14. Describe the action of the toad's throat when breathing. Did 

 you ever see a toad shed its skin? 



15. What are the toad's enemies? How does it act when caught by 

 a snake? Does it make any noise? Is it swallowed head or tail first? 

 What means has it of escaping or defending itself from its enemies ? 



16. How is the toad of great use to the farmer and gardener? 

 References — "The Life History of the Toad," by S. H. Gage, Cornell 



Nature-Study Volume; The Frog Book, Dickerson. 



Supplementary reading— "Yi' Annk, the fat one," A Little Brother to 

 the Bear, Long. 



"In the early years we are not to teach nature as science, ive are not to teach it 

 primarily for method or for drill: we are to teach it for loving — and this is nature- 

 study. On these points I make no compromise." 



— L. H. Bailey, 



