Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/126

102 birds. In game-preserving districts, Pheasants probably clear off great numbers.

The small weak voice of the Toad is occasionally heard at other times than the breeding season, though much less frequently. I noticed it on many occasions in the year 1892, more especially from the beginning of August till October, and heard one calling in a pond in Norfolk as late as the 4th of the latter month. At almost any season, on being taken in the hand, a Toad will occasionally protest feebly against such treatment by means of its voice.

As a rule, batrachians of all kinds, as far as I am aware, breed but once in a year, having a "set time" in spring or early summer devoted to that purpose. I have nevertheless once or twice at other seasons met with Toads having the altered appearance assumed by these animals at their spawning time.

On the 14th of October, 1882, on a sandy common in Suffolk, I met with a male showing at that time those marked characteristics which I supposed to be peculiar to the season of reproduction. The skin was smooth, shining, and of a greenish tint, the forearm exceedingly thick, and the thumbs furnished with knobs; but in this case they were whitish instead of black. It called out loudly on being taken up.