The toad and frog are somewhat alike.  Both come from eggs laid in the water, and both begin life as little swimming tadpoles.

The young toad, when he is a tadpole, is sprinkled all over with very fine spots, which look like gold-dust, while the frog tadpole is dark.

The first few weeks of a toad’s life are spent in a ditch or a pond.  Here he lives on water-weeds and dead leaves.  After a while he eats water-insects and small grubs.

While living in the water the little toad looks very much like a fish.  He has a large head and a long tail.  He breathes through two branches, like feathers, which are called gills.  These gills grow on each side of his head.

The toad changes very much before he is ready to live on land.  In the water he has no legs, but soon he has four.  His gills are gone and he draws in air through his throat.  He is going to begin a new life.  In the spring the toads go back to the shore of the pond.  Mrs. Toad knows that her eggs must be hatched in the water, although she prefers to live on the land.

Frogs must live near the water, for they will die if their skins are not kept moist and cool.  Yet they cannot live long in the water, and a drowned frog is no uncommon sight.  Kind-hearted boys and girls should remember this, and be ready to lend a helping hand to some poor frog that finds the sides of his swimming-place too steep for him to climb.

Young toads are very sensitive to heat, and secrete themselves in cool places during the day.  A summer shower will bring them out by the dozens, so that many ignorant people think that the thirsty creatures have “rained down.”  Mr. Toad carries under his skin a great many small sacs full of liquid.  This keeps him cool and comfortable, no matter how dusty his home may be.  If he is frightened he can defend himself with this liquid, which is harmless to the hands, but probably bitter and disagreeable to the taste, since dogs and cats show signs of discomfort after taking toads in their mouths.  Care should be taken to wash one’s hands after touching a toad, as this liquid is also very irritating to the eyes, and might be rubbed into them.

The most curious thing about a toad is its tongue.  This is very long, and its tip is turned backward into the mouth.  It can dart out and snap up a fly or a beetle so quickly that it is almost impossible to see the motion.

Toads are not only harmless, but they are our very good friends.  If they are not disturbed they will live a long time in one place, and destroy many bugs and insects that injure our gardens.

It has been estimated that every year in this country property to the amount of $400,000,000 is destroyed by insects.  If this is true all creatures which feed upon insects are entitled to our care and gratitude.

The United States Department of Agriculture has published a paper on the toad.  It estimates that he saves to the farmer, by eating the cutworms which destroy the crops, about twenty dollars every season.