COMMON FROGS AND SALAMANDERS 297 



tabulated form, descriptions and suggestions of a few of 

 our commonest species. Naturally a species may be com- 

 mon in one locality and not in others, but it is intended 

 that the pupils should spend their time learning the life 

 stories of what they have rather than in hunting for what 

 they have not. The table thus aims to aid in naming 

 forms that may be brought in rather than to suggest what 

 to hunt for, and the scientific names are inserted in order 

 to facilitate reference to special books, not to be learned 

 by the children or teacher. 



Toads, Frogs, and Salamanders 



Batrachia 



TOADS, Bufo. Jaws toothless, skin generally warty. Genera three, 

 species thirty ; found in all parts of the world except Australia. 



Common Toad, B. lentiginosus. Variety of northern form, ameri- 

 canus. Very variable; adults warty; young almost smooth. 

 Note a prolonged trill, uttered by the males during the breeding 

 season, April and May, sometimes also in July. Food : insects, 

 spiders, millipeds, slugs, and worms. Feeding habit chiefly 

 nocturnal. Does not eat young of its own species.^ 

 FROGS, Rana. Skin smooth ; toes and fingers fully webbed ; maxil- 

 lary and generally vomerine teeth ; chiefly aquatic. Genera four- 

 teen, species about fifty. Eggs are laid in masses of gelatinous 

 matter. 



Common Frog, Leopard Frog, R. virescens. Greenish, sometimes 

 brassy, above, with light-edged dark spots arranged in two irregu- 

 lar rows along the back; beneath, pearly white or yellowish. 



1 This is an interesting point to test. I have found that a toad will 

 snap a little toad, as it will any moving thing; but my experience has been 

 that they always immediately open the mouth and set the little one free 

 uninjured. I have never seen an insect or any other living thing treated in 

 this way. 



