98 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



with them appears to be far less complete; indeed, it is not very 

 unusual to find them moving about well into November. In the 

 year 1888, I saw a young Toad of the previous year climbing 

 about among long grass and other herbage as late in the season 

 as Dec. 3rd. Another on the same day, found secreted under a 

 large stone, was quite brisk and lively. On Feb. 9th, 1891, a 

 large female was turned out by the spade at a depth of about 

 four inches, from ground which had been well dug during the 

 previous winter, and was consequently in a comparatively loose 

 state. This Toad sprawled feebly with all its limbs, at the same 

 time alternatively opening and shutting its eyes. Three weeks 

 or a month later it would probably have emerged and been 

 making for water. 



Breeding Habits. — Though the breeding season of B. vul- 

 garis is rather later than that of B. temporaria, the former is to 

 be seen abroad almost as early in the year as the latter. Toads 

 have farther to travel to their breeding places than Frogs, as 

 their winter quarters are often far removed from water. Males 

 are often met with on their accustomed spring journey quite at 

 the beginning of March. There is always a marked preponder- 

 ance of that sex at the commencement of the breeding season, 

 and all the time the Toads remain in the water the males exceed 

 the females in number, though not to the same extent as at first. 

 The former are the first to awaken from their long winter's sleep. 

 In the year 1882, I observed a male Toad making for water as 

 early in the year as Feb. 26tb, and in the following year noticed 

 one close to a pond in which many breed on the 28th of the same 

 month. In 1885 one was heard "chirping"* or "piping" in the 

 same pond on March 1st. In the years 1872, '84, and '93, I saw 

 Toads in or near water during the first week in March ; while in 

 five other years (1886, '88, '89, '90, and '94) their first appearance 

 abroad, or rather the occasion on which their presence was first 

 detected, has been some time during the second or third week of 

 that month. These dates can only, of course, be considered as 

 approximately indicating the actual first appearance. 



Toads usually remain in the water till the middle of April or 

 even later ; on one occasion (in 1884) I heard one in a ditch on 



* The high pitched note of the Toad can hardly be called a "croak." 

 The word " chirp " seems to express it more accurately. 



