Notes on the Natural History of the Natterjack. 12? 



NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE 

 NATTERJACK. 



BY JONATHAN COUCH, F.L.S., ETC. 



The Natterjack is a kind of toad, the existence of which was 

 not known in the British islands until it was made known by 

 Pennant, and to him the information was communicated by Sir 

 Joseph Banks. But there was scarcely anything* given of its 

 history or manners. Pennant says that it frequents dry and 

 sandy places, bufc it is known to the writer only as it is found 

 in places much the opposite of this ; although the difference 

 may arise only as its residence and habits are affected by the 

 change of seasons ; or by the influence arising from the impulse 

 to deposit its spawn in a congenial situation, which within our 

 observation has only been in pools of rocks so close to the 

 open sea as to appear to be every instant exposed to be broken 

 in upon by salt water. At the most a foot or two of the bare 

 rock is all that lies between the favoured situation and the 

 open sea, so that a little roughness of the waves appears to b9 at 

 any time sufficient to throw the sea into the place ; and in some 

 instances it was noticed that there were pools tenanted by the 

 rock goby, a fish which must have entered them from the sea, 

 which lay on the same level with those which were occupied 

 by the natterjack. But it was a subject of surprise that the 

 latter could have been able to enter the pool, in consequence of 

 the almost inaccessible situation of the place to such a creature 

 from the land. On closer examination, however, it is con- 

 stantly to be observed that these selected pools are in a damp 

 place, where a draining of fresh water from the m*Ore elevated 

 cliff is constantly dribbling into them; so that the water in 

 which the spawn is deposited is but little, if at all brackish. 

 Natterjacks make their appearance in these situations about 

 the end of March, or at the early part of April ; and it appears 

 that in habitually selected spots they come all at once, and 

 without loss of time they begin to perform the functions which 

 have brought them together. This early proceeding is the 

 more immediately necessary as there is scarcely any shelter in 

 the place by which to conceal themselves or their actions ; for 

 the water is too fresh for the growth of seaweeds, and too bare 

 to permit plants which might grow in fresh water to establish 

 their roots. In consequence of the exposed situation of these 

 places of resort it sometimes happens that these unprotected 

 animals are destroyed by ignorant persons, who have thought 

 their slaughter a meritorious act. 



The shedding of the spawn is probably accomplished in the 

 night, and seems to be effected with considerable labour, and 



