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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



the hind leg two inches long ; the fore leg one inch long ; with suckers 

 developed on the fore fingers. The fore feet are free, whilst the hind feet are 

 palmated. The bright sulphur- coloured dorsal line, though sometimes broken 

 in the middle, is always present, and renders it easy to distinguish the Nat- 

 terjack from the common toad. 



The Natterjack's movements are quicker, and it is decidedly a more active 

 animal than Bufo vulgaris. While the latter crawls along somewhat like a 

 tortoise, with its belly touching the ground, the Natterjack runs at a com- 

 paratively rapid rate, with its body elevated from the ground, somewhat like 

 a spider. This habit of running has led to its being called, in the south of 

 England, the running toad. Those which I keep in captivity, bury them- 

 selves during the day, in the sand in their case ; but during the night, they 

 are on the alert with their splendid eyes opened to the fullest extent, and 

 present a really attractive appearance. They feed upon various insects, 

 smooth caterpillars being their favourite dish : they will also eat small earth 

 worms. 



I should say, that in their wild state, worms don't form much of their diet, 

 as they will only take them when nothing else is forthcoming. They take 

 none but living food, whose faintest movement is quite sufficient to catch the 

 quick eye of the Natterjack. These toads are wild, and almost untamable ; 

 mine not at all reciprocating the kindly feeling shewn to them. Out of some 

 18 specimens, only 4 would feed from the hand; although, occasionally, if a 

 particularly tempting morsel is held in the ringers, a wild one will rush at it, 

 seize it, and then be lost amongst the sand. If any one wishes to see this 

 toad in all its activity, let him take a lamp and visit the sandhills in the 

 evening, more especially in the neighbourhood of some pool (in the early 

 summer in the breeding season, the locality may easily be found by the 

 croaking of the males), and he will be astonished at the numbers round about 

 him. In the daytime he may search in vain, unless he happens to know 

 something of the habits of this creature. It is sometimes called the sand- 

 toad, an appropriate name, as it is generally found in sandy localities, and 

 its colour is so much like that of the sand, that, when seen at rest, it is diffi- 

 cult to detect it. It might seem probable that the dorsal line would make 

 it conspicuous ; this is not so, however, for the yellow line may be easily 

 mistaken for a bit of dry grass which is so common amongst the sandhills. 

 On July 23rd last, when our club was at Formby, 1 found the Natterjacks 

 in their holes amongst the sandhills ; they are abundant there, and owing to 

 their loud croaking are locally known as Formby organs. Mr. J. A. Jackson 

 has also sent me some from Garstang, amongst which were two small ones, 

 in their second year, as well as some born this year. 



