252 that's it ; 



double necklace-like chains or 

 strings, of beautifully transparent 

 gluten, and of the length of three 

 or four feet, in each of which are 

 disposed the ova, in a double 

 series throughout the whole 

 length, having the appearance of 

 so many jet-black globules or 

 beads; being in reality no other 

 than the tadpoles convoluted into 

 a globular form, and waiting for 

 the period of hatching, which 

 takes place in about fourteen or 

 fifteen days, and are nourished by 

 various animalcules, gluten, leaves 

 of water plants, &c. We shall 

 describe the transmutations of the 

 toad and frog when we examine 

 the inhabitants of the ponds and 

 streams. 



2 



655. 



The toad is distinguished by 

 being covered with tubercles, or 

 elevations on the skin of the 

 back ; and the general colour of 

 the animal is an obscure brown 

 above, much paler, and spotted 

 underneath. The toad, however, 

 is occasionally found of an olive 

 cast, with darker variegations; 

 and in some specimens, more 

 especially in the earliest part of 

 the summer, the shoulders and 

 hips are marked with " reddish 

 spots, while a tinge of yellow 



often pervades the under parts 

 both of the limbs and the body. 



The frog, 3, as compared with 

 the toad, has a more pleasing 



3 



656. 



form, and a livelier appearance; 

 the limbs are well calculated for 

 its peculiar motions, and its hind 

 feet being more perfectly webbed 

 than those of the toad, it can swim 

 more freely. The frog does not 

 reach its full size until it is five 

 years old, and it lives from twelve 

 to fifteen years. The toad lives 

 even longer than the frog, and 

 both are very tenacious of life. 



The toad is looked upon with 

 great aversion by many people, 

 and even the frog is regarded 

 with antipathy. But, upon exa- 

 mination, their eyes will be 

 found to be exceedingly beau- 

 tiful, being surrounded with a 

 reddish-coloured iris. 



The supposition that toads are 

 venomous is unfounded. They 

 are useful to man, and might be 

 made to a still greater degree 

 his obedient servants, by being 

 employed to catch and devour 

 insects and slugs in gardens and 

 conservatories. The Rev. Mr. 



