THE WARTY TOAD . 
163 
in accounting for the fact, because the growth of wood over a wounded part is often extremely 
rapid, and has been known to cause the inclosure of nails, tools, and even birds’ nests with 
their eggs. Even in such a case, there is not sufficient evidence to prove that the closure was 
absolutely perfect, and that the Toad was hermetically sealed in the wooden walls of its cell. 
Dr. Buckland made some experiments on this supposed property of the Toad, and inclosed 
a number of these creatures in artificial chambers, made to represent as nearly as possible the 
rock and wood in which the imprisoned Toads have been found. None of these experiments 
met with success ; and in those cases where the Toads lived longest, the plaster was found 
imperfect. Some of the Toads whose cells were really air-tight died in a month or two. 
It may, however, be reasonably urged that such experiments do not fairly represent the 
original conditions under which an animal could survive for so long a period, and that in 
order to carry out the experiment in a consistent manner, the Toads ought to have been 
procured when very young, inclosed in a chamber with a moderate aperture, and that aperture 
lessened gradually, so as to prepare the creature by degrees for its long fast and deprivation 
of air. For a good summary of this subject and a collection of almost every narrative, I may 
refer the reader to Mr. Gosse’s “Romance of Natural History,” second series. 
The development of the Toad is much like that of the Frog, except that the eggs are not 
laid in masses, but in long strings, containing a double series of eggs placed alternately. 
These chains are about three or four feet in length, and one-eighth of an inch in diameter. 
They are deposited rather later than those of the Frog, and the reptiles, which are smaller and 
blacker than the Frog larvse, do not assume their perfect form until August or September. 
The general color of the Toad is blackish-gray with an olive tinge, and the tubercles which 
stud the surface are brown. Beneath, it is yellowish-white, tinged with gray, and in some 
specimens spotted with black. The full size of the Toad is not well ascertained, as it seems to 
have almost unlimited capacities for increasing in size together with years. The length of a 
very large specimen is about three inches and a half. 
The American Toad ( Bufo lentiginosus ) is exceedingly common in most parts of the 
United States. This species is peculiar in that it varies in several respects. An average 
specimen is about three inches in length, and two in breadth. Its general appearance is 
sufficiently familiar. 
This humble appearing, and to some vicious, but perfectly harmless reptile, or batrachian, 
is regarded by American agriculturists as a valuable agent in suppressing certain damaging 
insects. Five varieties are known. Sixty-seven species and varieties of Frogs and Toads are 
known in North America. 
Another species of Toad, the Natterjack, is found in many parts of Europe. It may 
be known from the common species by the short hind-legs, the more prominent eyes, the less 
webbed feet, the yellow line along the middle of the back, and the black bands on the legs. 
It is not so aquatic as the common Toad, haunting dry places, and seldom approaching water 
except during the breeding season. Its ordinary length is about three inches. 
The Green or Variable Toad ( Bufo mridis , or varidbilis ) is rather a handsome species, 
and is found plentifully in the South of France. It derives its popular names from the large 
spots of deep green with which its upper surface is adorned. Many of the Batrachians possess 
the capability of changing their hues according to locality or through mental emotion, and the 
Green Toad is extremely conspicuous in this respect, wearing different colors in light and 
shade, sleep and wakefulness. 
The Warty Toad of Fernando Po {Bufo tuber osus) is a singular looking species, 
remarkable for the extreme development of the hard tubercles on the back, and being among 
Batrachians analogous to the moloch among lizards, or the porcupine among mammalia. The 
whole upper surface of the body is thickly covered with large tubercles, each having a horny 
spine in the centre. The glands on the back of the head are large and very conspicuous. 
Even the under parts are covered with tubercles, but without the spine in the centre. Above 
