THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



175 



used in work, there had been less than there used to be. I am told that 

 both the ringed snake and the adder were rather plentiful. I only saw one 

 of the former snakes." 



About the end of February or the beginning of March the toad appears, 

 and may then be seen in many a wayside ditch and quarry-pool, sitting with 

 his Ugly phiz poked above the surface, and staring most earnestly at nothing 

 in particular. Occasionally he will give vent to his feelings by a hoarse 

 gurgle, and if alarmed ducks below the water, and swimming with almost the 

 agility of the frog soon disappears. Later on, that is about the middle or end 

 of March, though the time varies considerably, the toad deposits its spawn, 

 and those which have hybernated in various places on land are often com- 

 pelled to travel miles before they find a ditch or pool suitable for the purpose. 

 Now the country rambler may hear the song of the toad. This, of course, is 

 not very musical, consisting of a succession of short gruff notes, repeated very 

 quickly. When the breeding season is at it height, a reptile-haunted pool 

 presents a scene of great activity, particularly as evening comes on. First one 

 ugly head is poked above the surface of the water, then another, then a frog 

 will croak to a neighbour in the water, and a toad gurgle to an acquaintance 

 close by, varied sometimes by a regular chorus of croaks, especially when rain 

 is at hand. 



At this time (March), we see the toad in couples in the water, often en- 

 tangled in strings of ova. It is now easy to distinguish the sexes : the 

 male is dark in colour, comparatively well shaped and small, while the female 

 is fearfully bloated and heavy. The spawn of the toad is very beautiful, con- 

 sisting of double bands or chains of clear, jelly-like gluten, several feet in 

 length. In these chains, at unequal distances, the jet-black, bead-like eggs or 

 ova of the reptile are placed. These strings of spawn are wound round any 

 roots, plants, or stones, which happen to be at the bottom or sides of the 

 pools. In about three weeks time the eggs hatch, and the little tadpoles are 

 released. In appearance and habits they much resemble those of the frog, 

 but are smaller and darker, their transformations, however, are very similar. 

 I once found a few toad-tadpoles in a sheltered quarry-pool, so late as Nov. 

 8th. These tadpoles were provided with legs. 



In June the little toads assume their perfect form, and issue in multitudes 

 from the ditches and pools. The following note from my diary for 1875 will 

 prove this. "June 17th. — Close to the edge of the biggest pool was a half- 

 circle of little black creatures, a moving wriggling mass of the tadpoles of 

 Bufo vulgaris, in all their stages of growth. There were true tadpoles of all 

 sizes, some others with hind legs, some with fore and hind, and small toads 

 some with tails and some without. Such a sight I never saw before. To 



