236 



FR(_)GS, TOADS, AXD SALAMANDERS 



frog. The life history of the toad is hke that of the frog 

 except that the eggs of the toad are deposited hi long, 

 coiled strings in shallow water. The eggs are black and 

 spherical and are held together and surrounded by a string 

 of transparent gelatinous material. 



Molting of the toad. — From time to time, in its hfe, a 

 toad sheds its skin much after the manner of a molting 

 caterpillar. "Without any prelinrinary symptoms or loss 

 of appetite or livehness, the body makes a few twisting 

 motions, the back is now and then curved, and the skin 

 splits down the middle line." After the skin has been 



Fig. 16.5. — Surinam toad. 



partly peeled from the body, the toad gets the free end into 

 its mouth, gradually slips out of the skin backwards, and 

 finally swallows it. The new skin is usually light in color 

 and is wet and shining but soon becomes dry and hard. 



