Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-29
For the Freeman.
Letters on Natural History.
ABOUT TOADS.
by DIR. HIRAM A. CUTTING,

1t Is related of Canning, the celebrated
English diplomatist, that when consulted
about important business by Frcre, while
near his residence in Enfield, they were
walking on the shore of pond, Mr.. Frerf
was much surprised that this man who
could rule, and did virtually rule GREAT
and civilized nation, did not know the his.
tory of the tadpole or that it changed to ,
frog. How many farmers bows would
consider man an imbecile that did not
know the natural history of the frog and
yet TO many have found that the history
OF toad was not as familiar, though quite
similar, and much larger number of
persons than it would take for IL majority.
even If women were allowed to vote know
little about either. So | have ventured 70
bring this subject before your readers.
loads are not generally accounted beau
lllul. They are even considered stupid
which is far from the truth; and our com.
mon tree-toad Is as beautiful as II Bird
with song quite as musical. Lafoptaine
Says when speaking of beauty: "Ask the
tree-toad and he will answer Behold NV
WIFE," They are philosophers, also, or
at least knew the method of maxine =
vacuum before man understood that such
could exist. Their abdominal muscles ara
80 used that when the frog laws flat mon
a tree the central portion of the abdomen
can be drawn up, thus holding the frog in
position by atmospheric pressure. The
feet are also provided with exhaustive
cushions like the feet of the house Av
Thus they are enabled to climb trees
and rest IN any position, even with their
back downwards, They subsist upon in
sects when infest the trees. Bul If Woo
the common garden toad intended to
speak Of yet what l say will perhaps in
their production apply to both.
There is common prejudice against
loads that is ill-founded. They are even
thought to be poisonous, and to secroto -
poisonous fluid; also by some to have
jewel or lucky bone in their head MI ofI
winch is erroneous. The toad may be
handled as well as a frog, and the anid
electtd when frightened is simply acrid to
dogs TASTE but neither poisonous to ami.
nal or plant. The only jewels in its head
are its prominent eyes, which are cleonood
by nictitating membrane, as in tbo
horse which does away almost entirely
with the necessity OF winking; vet fine
wlnking is slowly done by the lower eve.
lid. wv
lhey are, notwithstanding their dirty
COLOR very cleanly, having no parasites
ana frequently changing their skins. They
IRE great consumers Of insects iniurions
10 vegetation and they ought to be nro.
lected by law even, as much as birds. 7
nave been in the habit of PURCHASING toods
Tor my garden from farmers bows who
lived some distance away. Oftaken near
hey would go home again.) This is .
good investment for gardener. Some !
european writer of note has styled them
he gardeners assistant" and they truly
ire so.
They are active according to the tenn !
,erature, and having capacious stomacbs
hey Can take large supplies of food If y
my person will take the trouble to take = \
eat In their garden, as twilight approaches d
summer and keep perfectly Quiet, thew a
4, an study their habits of feeding at eass II
ney nave no teeth, not even in their
lroat like the frog, but tongue HINGED g
ear the lip, and the point lying toward h,
lie throat. 1t is kept moist and sticky Inv pl
giuey saliva. When projected against H.
insect it sticks, and the insect is throw Ill
+ down the throat and Immediately swa, In
wed There are varieties with palatal Sc
9'h' like fishes, but they are not common tie
Jus they live through the warm season m