Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-10-05

I
You never saw toad eat any dead in.
sects, did you, or even any that were still
| did you. No; the toad's hunt is . real
chase, for he eats only living and moving
food. He must approach cautiously but
| rapidly, move most alertly ct the final mo-
ment, and perhaps meet with disappoint.
ment after all, ss the grasshopper takes
wing or the caterpillar rolls into motion.
less ball!
We do not need to ask each other when
it is that toads 60 hunting, do we. For
we have all seen them, ~ we have sat
iaxily round on summer day as it nears
the close OF the afternoon, steal out from
their hiding places where they have been
asleep nearly all day, and again late in the
evening as We have been walking along
some dark road, have we not been startled
many times by that sudden, unmistaka BILE
jump OF the frog right in front OF usf
Where is il and what 10 it that the toad
is chasing on these night hunts? he 10
walking over lawns and yards and into
gardens and orchards and Catching the
crickets and the grasshoppers" there, mot
in the least objecting to their hard coats,
their long, spiny legs. and the s.molasses"
OF the locusts. He may swallow even bee
or wasp found on the low clovers or
dandelions, and seem to feel much less uu-
comfortable than one might suppose.
Farther out in the garden he snaps up the
beetles and bugs that are running close to
the ground or eating the potato, squash or
cucumber leavss-
He rejoices ss blundering May beetle
noisiiy sheathes its wings near him. Be-
fore it has time to begin the task OF laying
its many eggs, it furnishes . mouthful
that makes the toad shut its eyes hard
several times to get the big thing
swallowed. For, strange - it may seem,
the large eyes Of the toad can be pressed
down into the mouth - far below it's roof
as they rise above the head, and the move
ment aids effectually in swallowing.
II the farmer could see, he would surely
smile with satisfaction, for this May
beetle 10 the mother OF the white grubs
that feed on roots and underground stems
and 30 ruin his pasture and spoil his po-
tato crop. 1t 10 not beneath the dignity OF
the toad to sit and feast ON the plant-lice
that live on the lettuce. He swallows any
spiders he may catch. He may sit in one
place for long time and eat the ants that
sre about an ant hill or that gather on .
decaying apple or pear. He loiters about
the roots OF the corn and attacks the cut
worms - they come out from their day
n n nh nd Ii
leaves they devour At night.
ToADs TO THE RESCUE.
Those same cutworms that destroy our
lovely pansies, tool Do you wonder that
Celia Thaxter imported some toads for her
"Island Garden"f Perhaps some Of you
do not know who Cells Thaxter waA for
she lived and wrote quite long time ago
But she has written 90 many stories and
poems you will like to read this winter,
that want you to get q bit acquainted
with her. This is what she says the toad
did for her gardens:
I'm the thickest OF my fight with tho
slugs, some one said to me, Every living
thing has its enemy; the enemy OF the
slug is the toad. Why don't you import
toads!
II snatched at the hope held out to me,
and Immediately wrote to friend on the
continent, In the name OF the prophet,
tosds!' At once force OF only too willing
boys set about the work OF catching every
toad within reach, and one day in June q
boat brought box to me from the far Cd
express Office. A piece Of wire netting was
nailed across the top, and upon the earth
with which it was half filled, reposing
upon some dry green leaves, sat three dry
and dirty toads, wearily gazing at nothing.
Is this all, thought, only three! Hardly
worth sending SO far. Poor creatures!
They looked 50 arid and wilted, took up
the hose and turned upon them q gentle
shower of fresh, cool water, flooding the
box.
81 was not prepared for the RESULT The
dry, baked earth heaved tumultuously; up
came dusky heads and shoulders and
bright eyes by the dozen. A sudden con-
cert OF liquid, sweet notes was poured out
on the air from the whole rejoicing COM
pany. 1t was really beautiful to hear that
musical ripple OF delight. l surveyed
them with eager interest Is they sat sing
ing and blinking together.
You are not handsome" said, Is !
took hammer and wrenched Oh the wire
that shut them in, "but you will be lovely
in my sight II you will help me to destroy
my enemy" and with that / turned the
box on Its side and out they skipped into
perfect paradise of food and shade. All
summer came upon them in different
parts OF the garden, waxing fatter and
fatter until they were as round as apples
In the autumn baby toads no larger than
my thumb nail were found hopping
merrily over the whole island. There
we're sixty in that nrst importation; next
summer received ninety more"
Salt is poisonous to toads. They canno
live in regions where there1s much of it
SO Celia Thaxter was afraid the toad
would not live over another year, ON be-
little island with the salt water all arouns