A 
1884.] Recent Studies of the Spade-foot Toad. 1077 
confined to a few very shallow pools of limited area, and in these 
pools were a few hundreds of Scaphiopus tadpoles. In compari- 
son with the abundance of eggs seen June 26, and of young seen 
aweek later, it is evident that a large portion of the eggs were 
destroyed and a vast number of very young tadpoles were 
killed by the soaking away of the water. 
I have never known any like disparity between the eggs of 
frogs or common toads and the young in the tadpole state ; and 
it is at once very evident that if the spade-foot toads habitually 
or usually deposit their eggs in temporary pools, then we have 
an obvious reason for the positive rarity of the animal, as appa- 
rently it is the rule, rather than the exception, for the egg to be 
destroyed or the young perish. : 
The tadpoles gathered July 9, which were then seven days old, 
were curious creatures. At this time the hind legs were well 
developed, although small, and did not interfere with the animal's 
natatorial locomotion, The bodies of these young Scaphiopi 
were short, stout and oval, and, when viewed in the water, deep 
velvety black; but when closely examined it was found that the 
two irregularly parallel yellow dorsal stripes, that are so promi- 
nent a feature in the coloration of the adult male, were plainly 
discernible, 
The movements of these tadpoles were not different from that 
of the young frogs and toads in this stage of their existence. 
Those that I had in an aquarium moved in companies as though 
following a leader, and occasionally one would drop out of the 
_ Tanks, come quickly to the surface, eject a bubble of air, and dive 
again quickly to the bottom of the tank. Like all tadpoles they 
d enormous appetites, and when fed with bits of raw meat 
quickly attached their sucking mouths to the food offered, and 
id not remove it, I think, while a particle of blood remained in 
the mass. 
A week later, July 16, the majority of these tadpoles had 
acquired their front legs, and the tail had perceptibly diminished 
ìn size, but still was used by them when moving through the 
Water. At this time, however, the movements of the animal are 
far less active than before or soon after, and for a few days, if 
exposed to the attacks of any enemies, would suffer far more 
than at any other period of their lives. 
A very curious feature in the growth of these animals is now 
