The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25
Mr.. TOAD, FARMERS FRIEND.
AN INTERESTING FELLOW, IF HE
DOESN'T EAT HIS COAT.


sects Which Might Do $50 Worth
of Damage to Crops Each Year.
Mr.. Toad Is Al Nocturnal Bird, With
Queer Ways of His Own.
Vice President Egan of the Central is is
suing a series of pamphlets containing
matters of interest to farmers. In pamph
let No. 3, recently put into circulation, is
found this bulletin of the Georgia Expert
ment (No. 50 respecting our familiar, but
heretofore unappreciated friend, the toad:
Great and benehcent results are often
accomplished through very humble agen-
cies Darwin has established the claim OF
the earthworm 10 the gratitude of the til
Ter of the soil and modern science is re-
vealing thousands of hitherto unseen and
unknown agencies working in the interests
of man. Science now comes forward to
establish what few have long maintain
ed, viz. that the ugly and despised toad
is a faithful and efficient servant of the
farmer.
From the earliest times, as a bulletin of
the Massachusetts Hatch station states,
the toad has been associated in the popu-
lar mind with a host of vague and ludl-
crous fancies as To its venomous qualities,
It's medicinal virtues, or, most commonly,
the hidden toadsCone of priceless value
To these venerable creations of the mag
nation have been added others equally
absurd, such as that touching loads will
produce warts Oh the hands; that killing
toadS Will produce bloody milk in COWS;
that toad's breath will cause commissions
in children that a toad in a newly dug
well Will insure good and unfaiiug sup
ply of water, or in a new-made cellar will
bring prosperity to the household, etc.
This station has made an investigation
of the habits, food and economic value.
of the American toad which dispels these
fallacous ideas, and al the same time es-
tablishes the claim Of the little animal TO
our consideration and appreciation.
In New England the toad usually
energies from its hibernating quarters dur
ing the month of April Cold weather re-
tards its movements, but on warm days
at this season the tOads may be found
on their way to the ponds and stagnant
pools, where little later the Characters
tic shrill cry may be heard throughout
the day and evening. Mating is commence
ed as soon as the water is reached, or
even before, and in a few days the long,
Shiny ropes" of eggs deposited by the
female may be found in the pools The
eggs are pearly black in color and rapidly
increase in size. In two weeks The young
tftA}OtSo dAt NIIf1l ~ Ohl4lfIti, anu III tIllNS
or four weeks the eggs hatch. The veg
etable detritus of the pond bottoms and
the slime and algae attached to sticks,
plants, etc, seem 10 be the common food
Of the tadpole. Warm weather faVors the
growth of the tadpoles, and usually by
July TO Is the young toads are fully de-
veloped, leave the water and spread over
the fields Al this stage they are exceed
inSly sensitive to heat and secrete them
selves under leaves, rubbish stones etc,
during the day, but let a vigorous shower
descend and the transformation is magi-
cal. The walks roads and gardens at
once became peopled with myriads sof
these thirsty leaping creatures and their
sudden appearance has led to the popular
belief that they rain down" 1t is f0rtu-
nate for them that when young they are
unable to endure solar heat, otherwise
large numbers would probably be destroy
ed by the birds, which are active during
the day; doubtless many are killed by the
predacious birds and mammals which
prowl by night"
Many conflicting statements have been
made regarding the longevity of the toaG
but there can be but little doubt that
loads live TO a considerably greater age
than is supposed, and we may hazard the
opinion that many of them reach an age
of at least ten or fifteen years.
Experiments have been made which
Show that it is possible for the toad to
exist for a limited time Without food, but
throw a shadow of improba bilty upon
the stories Of those found in rocks, trees,
ETC."
when suddenly disturbed or roughly
handled the toad elects a colorless fluid
from the anus and milky liquid from
the skin. This habit is probably the basis
for The belief that the load is venomous.
The secretion of the skin glands is harm
less when applied 10 the hands, but it evil
daDfIy nrti .f,7.-,
when toads are bitten by dogs or cats
the latter usually have a copious flow of
saliva, show signs of discomfort, and In
some cases coming under the observation
of the writer have manifested cOnsidera-
BILE distress. That this fluid is not objec-
tionable to all animals is apparent from
the fact that many hawks. owls. et,I, in
clude the toad in their bill of fare"
The toad sheds it's skin four or five times
each year There is a popular notion thar
the toad swallows the molted skin, but
this was not observed in this study
ION the approach of cool weather,
sometimes as early as the LIST of Septem-
Der, toads begin TO seek winter quarters.
These they find in cellars, under buildings,
rocks leaves or rubbish, and in places
where the action of frost will not be felt
Cold benumbs them, but does not kill"
The toad cannot endure high tempera-
lures. Properly speaking it is a noctur-
day only when tempted by an abundance
of food in it's immediate vicinity, or when
the air is full of moisture. 1t eats only
living and moving insects, centipedes. etc.
1.-The toad's tongue, its only organ for
Selling food, is soft, eXtensile, attached in
front, but free behind, and is covered with
a glutinous substance which adheres firm
ly to the food seized. So rapid is the mo-
ton of this weapon that a careful watch
is necessary in order to see the animal
feed
"At night. soon after shutdown, or even
before on cool evenings, the toad energies
from its shelter and slowly hops about In
search of food. Something Of regular
beat is covered by these animals, whose
sense of locality is quite strong. In the
country this includes forays along road
sides, into gardens and cultivated fields,
and wherever insect food is abundant and
grass or other thick heritage does not pre-
vent locomotion. In cities and suburban
VILLAGE The Ia Wpg walks and DarficutarI,.