POLICEMEN OF THE GARDEN 181 
Mass. Such a spot seldom fails to yield up one 
or more toads even in the dullest part of the 
season. 
“The toad is usually a solitary creature, save 
at mating time, and in the fall of the year when 
a dozen or more may gather in some particularly 
attractive place for hibernating, such as under a 
loose pile of boards or stones. As soon as they 
are out in the spring, the males set up a soft, 
musical calling, not unlike the chime of bells 
heard from a distance. ‘Cling!’ says one; 
‘Clang!’ goes another; ‘Clung!’ says a third; 
and so on daintily and indefinitely, f Cling, clang , 
clung; cling, clang, clung! ’ Which being inter¬ 
preted means, * The pond, the pond , come away! ’ 
And they themselves lead the way to the nearest 
pool. The number that assembles in response to 
these persuasive calls is often truly remarkable. 
Kirkland says that he once counted three hun¬ 
dred and fifty-six toads on the shores of a half¬ 
acre pond. 
“ The egg strings of the toads are curious af¬ 
fairs, being composed of long ropes or strands of 
gelatine dotted with tiny black eggs. This gelat¬ 
inous mass swells as soon as it touches the water, 
and is to be found coiled or matted in warm ponds 
and roadside pools in a mass far exceeding the 
body of the parent toad. The female toad swims 
around slowly laying her eggs, and passing 
