7,38 



THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XLIII 



Two toads just metamorpliosed were found in the 

 stomach of a green frog about a week old. Mr. E. H. 

 Eaton tells me of finding a toad an inch long in the 

 stomach of a leopard frog. Adult toads could not be in- 

 duced to eat the young. They would take them up, but 

 immediately reject them. 



The drying up of ponds during May and June kills 

 great numbers of the tadpoles. More than 90 per cent, 

 of the spawn is laid in the early spring when the ponds 

 are full. The tadpoles migrate to the shallower water, 

 where they find food and warmth. Here they crowd 

 into small pockets, and as the water lowers are left in 

 the isolated puddles to perish, unless timely rains refill 

 the pond. The "drying-up process" is disastrous not 

 only to the larvae, but also to the toads. Great num- 

 bers just emerged are no doubt dried up before they 

 find damp sheltered retreats. Adults also soon perish 

 if deprived of moist places. I give the following to 

 show the rapidity with which transpiration and absorp- 

 tion of water may take place in toads. A toad weighing 

 4.4 grams when placed in water, weighed 5.5 grams fifty- 

 five minutes later. One hour later, after having been 

 kept at a temperature of 85° F. in a box made of blotting 

 paper, it weighed 4.8 grams. Another toad treated as 

 above weighed 3.8, 4.5 and 3.8 grams, respectively. A 

 third weighed 39.8 grams when placed in one fourth inch 

 of water and 49.9 grams three hours later. This is a 

 gain of 25 per cent of her first weight. This toad was 

 capable of reducing her weight 8.7 grams by ejecting 

 water. From these experiments it is seen how im- 

 portant moisture is to the toad and whv toads seek damp 

 places. 



Birds play no small role in the destruction of the toad. 

 Of the domestic varieties ducks, chickens and guinea 

 fowls are always mentioned and to these Kirkland adds 

 geese as feeding on toads, especially the young just as 

 they are emerging. 5 



