176 NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
Besides, there is at least one toad on record which 
was seen to snap up eighty-six house-flies in less 
than ten minutes.” 
“ Do tell now,” ejaculated Grandmother, star¬ 
ing in surprise. “ I’m sure I never would have 
believed it! My mother once told me that in Tier 
day people thought the breath of a toad would 
poison a baby; she laughed at that, and it was 
silly, of course. But I was always taught to give 
toads a wide berth, and my brothers used to kill 
them on sight. One Saturday, I remember, they 
got a dozen or so at a neighbor’s pond, and prob¬ 
ably maimed several more. We thought it a 
splendid day’s work—just so many enemies slain; 
and Father gave the boys a quarter apiece. In¬ 
stead—why-ee—if what you say is true-” 
“ Instead,” finished Uncle John grimly, as 
Grandmother paused quite overcome with the 
enormity of the offense, “ the little rascals should 
have had a sound thrashing! And yet they were 
not so much to blame, since no one had told them 
the value of the creatures they feared and de¬ 
spised. Toads are one of Nature’s most efficient 
agents for combating insect pests. They are 
quite as valuable as birds, but whereas every one 
sees and loves the birds, the toads, quiet in habit 
and appearance, pursuing their work for the most 
part after nightfall, are to many people un¬ 
known, and to others objects of loathsome dis- 
