I90 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



May 26. Rudiments of hind limbs discernible. 

 " 30. Hmd limbs perfectly formed in minia- 

 ture and measure j\ inch in length. 

 The tadpoles are now brownish and 

 show traces of spots Length i-^^ inches 



June 4. Hind limbs | inch long. 



5- tV 



12. " " fully developed " \\ " 



14. Front limbs break through operculum. 

 16. Absorption of tail rapidly taking place. 

 18. Tail nearly absorbed; young toads leaving the water. 

 20. Metamorphosis complete; surrounding meadows teeming 

 with perfectly developed toads measuring -^ inch (bodv). 



The full-grown tadpole of the Toad and the perfectly de- 

 veloped creature as it leaves the water, are much smaller than 

 the frog tadpole, which usually attains a length of three and 

 one quarter inches before growth of the hind limbs begins, 

 while the perfect frog generally measures an inch or more when 

 it becomes fitted for semi-aquatic life. The tiny toads fall a prey 

 to many enemies, and but a small proportion of their numbers 

 attains maturity. Full growth is reached in about three years. 



The Spadefoot Toad, Scaphiopus holbrooki Harlan (Fig. 17), 



is moderate in size. In form it is very stout, with wide, blunt 



head. Color, dark brown, or ashy-brown, with two 



Spa e 00 rather indistinct bands of paler shade on the back ; 

 Toad. 



these bands begin behind the eyes and extend in wavy 



or irregular fashion to the end of the body, where they run 



together. 



Although the skin is rough and is covered with numerous 

 raised points, it presents a smoother surface than that of the 

 Common Toad. The parotid gland (behind the eye), though 

 well-developed and very pronounced, is of smaller size in pro- 

 portion to the individual than that of the Common Toad. 



On the inner portion of the under surface of the hind foot 



there is a hard, spade-like process, tinged at the edge with deep 



black. From this appendage the creature derives its name. 



The hind foot is fully webbed. The pupil of the eye is elliptical 



[36I 



