Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-05-27
Our Friend the Toad.

of aversion; yet il is one Of the most
useful of the lesser servants OF man.
Many persons suppose that it emits
venom and that handling it causes
warts. There is no truth whatever in
the belief about warts. The venom"
is only milky, acrid fluid that the
toad elects through its smooth skin
when ii is frightened or disturbed
The fluid irritates mucous membrane,
and for that reason a dog that attempts
to bite a toad will often show distress
But owls and hawks, birds that hab-
itually eat toads, are apparently undis-
turbcd by the secretion, and certainly
it is not strong enough to affect the
hands.
Apart from that means Of defense.
the toad is an absolutely unprotected
creature; consequently, thousands of
toads are cruelty and needlessly de-
stroyed every year.
If you dislike toads, study their
eyes, which are almost as brilliant as
jewels. The feeling Of aversion will
disappear, and instead OF seeming an
ugly little beast the toad will grow in
teresting and even attractive in its
inimitable comedy way.
loads are greedy; but although
their appctites seem Unsuitable, they
will touch notring that is not alive.
Moving insects they snap up as soon as
they creep or fly within range of their
long tongues, which are hinged at the
front instead of the back.
In twenty-four hours toad eats an
amount Of food equal to four times
the capacity of its stomach. Of that
comparatively immense quantity of
food, at least three fifths is made up of
insects that are harmful to vegetation.
Cutworms, gypsy moths, tent cater
pillars, army worms, brown-tailed
moths, house flies and rose chafers are
some of the pests on which the toad
feeds. One toad under observation
consumed twcnty-four mcdium-sized
gypsy moth catcrpilars in one morn
ing; another ate thirty full-grown eel
cry catcrpillars III less than three
hours; still another dcvourcd eighty
six house flies in ten minutes; and a
fourth ate ninety rose bugs as fast as
he could and at the end of the meal
was still hungry.
The Department of Agriculture es-
Inmates that the economic value of
single toad, based on its destruction
of CutwOrmS alone during the months
of May, June and July, when insects
take their highest toll, is nineteen dol
lars and forty-four cents. In that
valuation, destroying one worm is
reckoned to be worth one cent. 1t is
a low estimate of the damage that cut
worms do. Add to the cutworms all
the other insects that the toad de-
stroys, and its Importance and value
become increasingly apparent
Gardeners are gradually learning
that it is worth while to keep colonies
of toads in their gardens, but no one
in this country has yet reached the
degree of appreciation that prompts
many English gardeners to buy toads
by the hundred. The toad, however.
has so strong a homing instinct that
unless he is brought from great dis
tance he will promptly hop back when
homeward than a toad will turn. But
he is released. Nocarrier pigeon or fire
Slle cat ever turned more unerrinpl,
by raising them from the tadpoles the
difficulty of keeping them is overcome
Tor the place where they leave the
water as toadS is always home to them
1t is said that full-grown toads al.
ways return to the pond where thew
were Matched to mate and to Law their
eggs; and they return year after wear
TO the same little den or shelter. and
to the same feeding ground. Several
instances are on record of a toad living
in one dooryard or garden for twenty
or thirty years; and one toad lived
th!rty-SlX years in an English garden.
If you wish to raise toads, make Use
OF any shallow pool for a breeding
place; or have an aquarium indoors
win a pair Of toadS or a mass of
toads eggs, a few fresh-water CLANS
TO Keep the water circulating and a
supply of water plants. Dog biscuit
broken into small quantities, with a
very little chopped meat added oc-
caSIonaIly when the tadpoles are half
grown, should he dropped into the
water. BE very careful not to give the