3o8 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



tirely aquatic and never leave the vi^ater, but our North 

 American toads and many of the frogs spend most of their 

 time on land, and to confine them to a tank of water, with 

 no means of leaving it, is cruelty which will soon result in 

 death. 



By far the most attractive way of keeping frogs and 

 toads is the properly equipped terrarium. The aquarium 

 or cage mentioned above may be floored with loam, in which 

 may be arranged various plants, ferns and mosses, which in 

 themselves are of great interest. A small pool should be 

 placed in the center. An assortment of small frogs and 

 toads in such surroundings will thrive, and form an at- 

 tractive collection. 



Frogs and toads, like other cold-blooded creatures, must 

 be kept fairly warm, especially during the winter months. 



The matter of food, so long as it is of animal character, 

 is not difficult. The smaller species will eat insects of almost 

 any kind, meal worms forming a convenient item. Bits 

 of raw beef, heart or liver are equally acceptable. Bull- 

 frogs will eat small birds and mice, and also smaller frogs 

 and toads. 



The once common belief in the ability of toads to pro- 

 duce warts on the hands of the unwary has been too often 

 refuted to require comment here. But nevertheless it is 

 true that the larger glands, more particularly the prominent 

 ones just behind the head, at each side, produce a mildly 

 poisonous secretion when the animal is very severely 

 handled. Skunks and some other creatures roll the toad 

 carefully with the fore-paws before eating it, but snakes 

 seem to have no qualms, and swallow the victim without 

 ceremony. 



The breeding habits of frogs and toads are of great inter- 

 est, and fortunately may be observed in the home aquarium. 

 The eggs are deposited in the water in the early spring, the 



