. Nature-study; a manual for teachers and students. Nature study. FROGS, TOADS, SALAMANDERS, SNAKES, ETC. 157 true warts, and the idea that handhng a toad causes warts is wrong. Toads do exude an acrid fluid from the skin which may irritate cuts or scratches on the hands, but it does not cause warts. The excretion is probably a protective device. The skin of the toad is dull colored, so that when it sits on the ground or lies half buried in the ground it resembles the earth so closely as to be diflicult to see. The movements of the toad are slow and cumbrous as com- pared with the nimble frog'
. Nature-study; a manual for teachers and students. Nature study. FROGS, TOADS, SALAMANDERS, SNAKES, ETC. 157 true warts, and the idea that handhng a toad causes warts is wrong. Toads do exude an acrid fluid from the skin which may irritate cuts or scratches on the hands, but it does not cause warts. The excretion is probably a protective device. The skin of the toad is dull colored, so that when it sits on the ground or lies half buried in the ground it resembles the earth so closely as to be diflicult to see. The movements of the toad are slow and cumbrous as com- pared with the nimble frog's. The toes are webbed, which would in- dicate that the toad, in spite of its land habits, is a swimmer. fig. ,5,. The Toad. In the early spring, after coming "^ "">'""'"' â '"""^''â ' out of hibernation, the toads assemble for a period in swampv places, where their long, plaintive ])ipings (from the males onlv) mav be heard. Visit such a place, and tlie toads will be seen spawning. The females are larger than the males, being full of eggs. The females lay the eggs and the males fertilize them. The eggs are laid in long ropes or strings on the bot- tom of shallow water, and are attached to water plants. Collect some of these eggs and place a few in a dish or vessel of water together with some green actual ic plants. When first laid they are about as large as a pin-head, but the jelly-like matrix in which they are imljedded soon absorbs water and swells. The eggs of toads are blacker than those of frogs, as are also the tadpoles or poUiwogs. The treatment of the tadpoles of the toad should be the same as for frog tadpoles. Their development, which is the same as that of frog tadpoles, only more rapid (about two months), should be observed by the children. As the. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrat
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