Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/61

NATTERJACK TOAD five inches, and its squat appearance, thick body, large head, flat crown, wide mouth, and unforked tongue are features of interest. A friendly Toad in a garden or greenhouse may be looked upon as a useful servant at all times, and once it has taken up its abode and all goes well, the interesting animal will remain thereabouts for quite a lengthy period. If there is a scarcity of water, it will take up its quarters in a drain, or ground-sink.

Natterjack Toad.—Bufo calamita (Fig. 22). Of local distribution, the Natterjack is of much smaller dimensions than Bufo vulgaris, and may be recognised by its greenish colour, and the possession of a yellow stripe along the back. The light underparts are generally spotted with black. It has more projecting eyes, and both sexes resemble one another in size, but the male has brushes on the fingers. It is a more active species than its more familiar cousin, and can move a good deal 45