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.[1] 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.
- ↑ There are, however, notable exceptions to this rule regarding the regular recurrence of the breeding season; particularly in the dry climate of Australia, where the spawning time of various Frogs seems to be regulated and determined by the rainfall. Cf. J.J. Fletcher, "Observations on the Oviposition and Habits of certain Australian Batrachians" (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, vol. iv. (ser. 2), p. 357 (1889).
