124 TOADS, BY GEORGE THTJBLOW. 



looking toads on top of what appeared to be a solid bank of earth. She sent 

 for her gardener to turn the hose on to the box, when to her surprise ninety 

 toads jumped out. What had appeared to be a bank of earth was really the 

 toads packed like sardines. This shows that even an educated person can be 

 deceived by the color of the toads, they so nearly resemble the earth. The 

 food of the toad consists of grubs, insects, and earthworms. 



The toad has a forked tongue which is fastened to the front part of the 

 lower jaw, thus the tip or forked portion points down the throat. When the 

 toad sees a fly he sends out his tongue, and catches the fly on the tip, which 

 is covered with a sticky substance. Then it goes back into his mouth. 



If the toad gets hot he blows up his skin just like a pneumatic tire 

 and thus keeps himself very comfortable. When we study into animals, we 

 find that nearly all have some weapon with which to defend themselves. 

 The toad's weapon is a white fluid which comes out of his skin after hav- 

 been plagued or irritated. This fluid makes the raw flesh very sore, but 

 this fluid will not cause warts as many people suppose. 



The toad is very useful in the garden and field. They eat the different 

 things that harm the garden and thus insure you against an eaten crop if 

 you cultivate their friendship by not hitting and maltreating them. Prof. Riley, 

 a famous naturalist, said that $400,000,000 worth of property were destroyed 

 yearly by grubs, insects, and so forth. The toad is very useful in prevent- 

 this large destruction of insects. 



Toads are bringing to-day twenty-five cts. apiece in England. And if 

 they are worth 25 cts. in England," they are surely worth protection in 

 America. 



LESSON ON THE STAR-FISH IN A SECOND GRADE, 

 CARR SCHOOL, SOMERVILLE, MASS. 



BY 



Almeka J. Majfsik. 



The pupils were much pleased with the star-fishes shown 

 to them and were delighted to write a story about them 



These papers were written without the aid of questions 

 as in some of the previous exercises. The more difficult 

 words were taken in the spelling lesson on the same morn- 

 ing. 



