OVEKTOX : LONG ISLAND FROGS AND TOADS. 27 
these years a few were heard about the middle of April, and their numl)ers, 
increased i;raduall\ nntil alsout Ma>- first, when the full chorus was 
singing. 
A male toad is a persistent singer during its sta>- in the water. Its 
song is a combination of a low whistle and a moan, and the two soinids 
do not melt into a chord. The combined sound is discordant and 
decidedly uni)leasant to a musical ear, but at a distance the .sound is more 
jileasant, for the moan is not apparent and onl\" the whistle is heard. 
The sound lasts from two to three seconds, and may be repeated at 
intervals of about ten seconds. In 191 1 many sang in the daytime but 
in igi2 and 1913 \'ery few were heard excejjt at night. 
The common toad of the mainland of New York State is called liufo 
aiiuricaniis. Its song is a sweet, trilling whistle, and may be imitated by 
whistling in a low monotone with drops of water held between the li])s. 
Each indix'idual .song is prolonged for about thirty seconds. The 
prolonged song of the American toad is a read\' means of distinguishing 
it from the short song of the common toad ( foic/rri) of Long Island. 
During its song the common toad distends its throat in a pouch 
about as large as its head. It .sings while sitting still, usually in shallow 
water. It will retain its po.sition for many minutes and even hours if it 
is not disturbed. It ma\- be photographed with greater ea.se than anv 
other batrachian. A toad ma}' frequently be seen distending its vocal 
sacs, but giving forth no sound. These voiceless toads seem unaware of 
the pantomine that they are enacting, and they go through the motions 
of their songs with as much grace and vigor as their noi.sy comi)anions. 
B\- far the greater number of tadpoles that are ordinarilx' t\)und in 
pools are the young of toads. Toad tadpole:? r.iay be found in shallovi* 
pools in nearly every marsh all through the months of May and June. 
About the first of July they lo.se their tails and acquire their legs. They 
then leave the water and, although they are tin\- creatures, they 
swarm upon the land in such numbers that the .story of the Egyptian 
plague of frogs in the tiriie of Pharaoh seems true to nature. The \oung 
toads are tender, and caiuiot long sur\-ive in a dr\' jUace. The\- will be 
dead and dried up in the morning after a night's confinement in a box. 
unless they have wet soil in which they can burrow. The>- therefore re- 
main hidden in the cool grass and under damj) leaves through the day, 
but thev go forth upon ojien paths and roadwa\s in countless swarms in 
the evening, especially after a shower. Their source is not the clouds, 
as is often supi>osed, but the nearest pool of water. 
