154 



GREEN TOAD. 



rather transverse, so as to form a kind of bars : the 

 abdomen is of a pale or Imid colour : the tubercles 

 are on some parts reddish, and on others green : 

 the eyes are of a beautiful gold- colour, and seem, 

 when the animal is irritated, to flash with a kind of 

 phosphoric light. The odour of this species is very 

 strong ; resembling that of the common black or 

 garden nightshade, but much more powerful, so as 

 to fill a whole room. The female is of a browner 

 cast than the male. 



In winter this species retires under ground, and, 

 like others of the genus, frequents the waters at 

 the breeding season. It appears to vary occasion- 

 ally in its colours ; the ground-colour being some- 

 times pale carnation. Its voice is said to resemble 

 in some degree the creaking of a door hinge. 

 Laurenti informs us, that the smaller kinds of grey 

 lizard (Lacerta agilis. Var,) on biting this toad, 

 immediately become strongly convulsed, and die 

 in the space of a few minutes ; their tails continu- 

 ing very strongly convulsed for a considerable 

 time after all motion has ceased in the other parts. 

 Its size is smaller than that of the common toad. 

 Dr. Pallas describes it in his Spicilegia Zoologica 

 under the title of Rana variabilis, or the Varying 

 Toad ; the general colour being described as whit- 

 ish, and that of the spots green ; but when placed 

 in a hot sunshine becoming entirely grey ; when 

 sleeping the spots alone appearing grey; and, 

 lastly, when torpid, the general tinge being a 

 flesh colour. 



