39 
SIR PETER BADE ON “ MY CITY GARDEN." 
year noted their habits and most remarkable peculiarities. These 
have been already fully described in the Society’s records, and 
1 can only now add to what I before stated, that they still continue 
to increase in size and in weight, and at about the same rate of 
progression as twelve or thirteen years ago. They still gain 1J to 
2 ounces in weight in each summer, and lose about 1 or 1 j ounce 
in weight during each winter hybernation. The total result is, 
that whilst they weighed respectively 2 lbs. 10 ozs. and 2 lbs. 
5 ozs. in September, 1886, they weighed in October last 3 lbs. 
13 ozs. and 3 lbs. 8 ozs., having thus each gained in weight during 
this period 1 lb. 3 ozs., or on an average about one ounce and 
a quarter in each year. 
Other reptilians which I have tried to domesticate (for observa- 
tion) in my garden are Toads and Froos. Hut I am bound to say 
that I have not been successful in preserving them in any numbers 
for more than a brief period. Their appearance and disappearance 
has at times been very mysterious and inexplicable, but on the 
whole those which I have imported have, as a rule, soon either 
died or been otherwise disposed of. Is it not probable, I would 
suggest, that they, or at least the smaller ones, have fallen a prey 
to Jackdaws, Rooks, or even Starlings? 
Of the Frogs which I brought home, only one survived the 
second year. But this one appeared to thrive in a remarkable 
degree for several years. It would apparently lie dormant for 
many months, and would then re-appear, lively, fat, and much 
grown, for a few weeks in the late summer or early autumn ; after 
which he would be no more seen until the following year. 
Toads are more interesting than Frogs ; and, indeed, in a city 
garden, by no means produce that feeling of loathing which is 
popularly supposed to be inherent in them. On the contrary, they 
quickly become tame, and almost assume the status of garden pets. 
And as a matter of fact, I entirely disagree with Shakespeare, 
who calls them “ugly and venomous.” 
At first the Toads which I imported would come out regularly 
on suitable evenings, and sit or hop about on the damp grass or 
flower-borders. And they exhibited a most special tendency (as 
has been observed by others) to come down to the house as if 
desiring an entrance. Indeed, when the door was open they would 
not unfrequently walk in. And I have more than once found one 
