102 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



birds. In game-preserving districts, Pheasants probably clear 

 off great numbers. 



The small weak voice of the Toad is occasionally heard at 

 other times than the breeding season, though much less fre- 

 quently. I noticed it on many occasions in the year 1892, more 

 especially from the beginning of August till October, and heard 

 one calling in a pond in Norfolk as late as the 4th of the latter 

 month. At almost any season, on being taken in the hand, a 

 Toad will occasionally protest feebly against such treatment by 

 means of its voice. 



As a rule, batrachians of all kinds, as far as I am aware, breed 

 but once in a year, having a "set time" in spring or early summer 

 devoted to that purpose.* I have nevertheless once or twice at 

 other seasons met with Toads having the altered appearance 

 assumed by these animals at their spawning time. 



On the 14th of October, 1882, on a sandy common in Suffolk, 

 I met with a male showing at that time those marked character- 

 istics which I supposed to be peculiar to the season of repro- 

 duction. The skin was smooth, shining, and of a greenish tint, 

 the forearm exceedingly thick, and the thumbs furnished with 

 knobs ; but in this case they were whitish instead of black. It 

 called out loudly on being taken up. 



* There are, however, notable exceptions to this rule regarding the 

 regular recurrence of the breeding season ; particularly in the dry climate of 

 Australia, where the spawning time of various Frogs seems to be regulated 

 and determined by the rainfall. Cf. J. J. Fletcher, " Observations on the 

 Oviposition and Habits of certain Australian Batrachians" (Proc. Linn. Soc. 

 N. S. Wales, vol. iv. (ser. 2), p. 357 (1889). 



