CLASS lY. BATRACHIA: ORDER 1. ANURA 
411 
THK COMMON EDROPEAN TOAD. 
abroad at evening in searcli of insects, whicli they catcli by darting out their long tongues with 
the quickness of lightning. They swallow their food alive, and often their sides naay be seen to 
twitch with the tickling caused by a large beetle struggling in the stomach. During winter they 
lie in a torpid state, concealed in holes and under stones. In the spring the female deposits her 
eggs in immense numbers, which, instead of being inclosed in a gelatinous mass, as in the frogs, 
are inclosed in a similar substance, but in long strings like necklaces. These are drawn out of 
the body of the female by the hind-feet of the male. The process of development is similar to 
that of the frogs. 
Genus BUFO : Bufo. — This includes the Common Toad of Europe, B. vulgaris : it is a 
harmless animal, though its ungainly appearance has made it the subject of general aversion. 
When it is about to feed, it remains motionless, fixing its eyes intently on its insect prey ; when 
the latter moves, the toad shoots forth its long tongue, quick as thought, and rarely fails to secure 
the prize. It is well known that toads can live for a long time without food, and it has been 
supposed also without air. Instances have occurred of these animals having been found imbed- 
ded in indurated clay, the solid trunks of trees, and even in rocks, where it w^as believed they had 
remained for years, perhaps for ages ; yet, on being liberated, came fully to life. The general 
opinion of scientific naturalists is, that these accounts are either untrue or inaccurate. They 
believe that toads may subsist for a long time, perhaps for years, with very little food or air, 
and that they may have been found apparently inclosed in solid substances, but that in point of 
fact there was some crack or crevice through which they obtained air and small insects sufi[icient 
to support life. 
The Natter-Jack Toad of Europe, B. calamita, resembles the preceding in appearance : there 
are also other foreig-n species, among which is the Accoucheur Toad, B. ohstetricans, vihich not 
only assists the female in excluding her eggs, but attaches them afterward to his own hind-legs, 
where the young are developed until they arrive at the tadpole state, when he visits the water 
and they escape. This species is common in the vicinity of Paris. 
Tlae Common American Toad, B, Americanns, closely resembles the common toad of Europe, 
and is found in the Northern, Middle, and Western States. In the South there are three or 
four species ; the B. cognatus is found along the Upper Missouri. 
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