A young toad making his way in the world

Poor old toads have enjoyed a rather mixed press. For example:

Swallow a toad in the morning and you will encounter nothing more disgusting the rest of the day.
Nicolas Chamfort (18th century French writer)

Mick Jagger is about as sexy as a pissing toad.
Truman Capote (American author)

The world has held great heroes,
As history books have showed;
But never a name went down to fame
Compared with that of Toad!

The clever men at Oxford
Know all there is to be knowed.
But none of them know half as much
As intelligent Mr. Toad!
Kenneth Grahame. The Wind in the Willows.