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FROGS, TOADS, AND SALAMANDERS 



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

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

 coiled strings in shallow \\'ater. The eggs are black and 

 spherical ami are held together anti surrouiiLled by a string 

 of transparent gelatinous material. 



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

 toad sheds its skin mucli after the manner of a molting 

 caterpillar. "^Yithout any preliminary symptoms or loss 

 of appetite or liveliness, the body makes a few twisting 

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

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



J''kj. If)'}. - .Surinam toad. 



partly jieeled from the liody, the toad gets the free end into 

 its mouth, gradually ,s]i])s out of the skin backwards, and 

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

 and is wet and shining but s(Jon becomes dry and hard. 



