io6 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



can not satisfy myself ; all I intend is, to recommend to those gentle- 

 men who may hereafter chance to see such rare phenomena, a strict 

 examination of every circumstance that can throw light upon a subject 

 so dark and mysterious ; for the vulgar, ever inclined to render uncom- 

 mon appearances still more marvelous, are not to be trusted." 



This author strikes the key-note of the inquiry in his concluding 

 words, and we shall find that the explanation of the matter really lies 

 in the clear understanding of what are the probabilities, and what the 

 actual details, of the cases presented for consideration. We may first- 

 ly, then, glance at a few of the peculiarities of the frogs and toads, 

 regarded from a zoological point of view. As every one knows, these 

 animals emerge from the egg in the form of little fish-like " tadpoles," 

 provided with outside gills, which are soon replaced by inside gills, 

 resembling those of fishes. The hind-legs are next developed, and the 

 fore-limbs follow 3 iiittle later ; while, with the development of lungs, 

 and the disappearance of the gills and tail, the animal leaves the water, 

 and remains for the rest of its life an air-breathing, terrestrial animal. 

 Then, secondly, in the adult frog or toad, the naturalist would point 

 to the importance of the skin as not only supplementing but, in some 

 cases, actually supplanting the work of the lungs as the breathing 

 organ. Frogs and toads will live for months under water, and will 

 survive the excision of the lungs for like periods ; the skin in such 

 cases serving as the breathing surface. A third point worthy of re- 

 membrance is included in the facts just related, and is implied in the 

 information that these animals can exist for long periods without food, 

 and with but a limited supply of air. We can understand this tolera- 

 tion on the part of these animals when we take into consideration their 

 cold-blooded habits, which do not necessitate, and which are not ac- 

 companied by, the amount of vital activity which we are accustomed 

 to note in higher animals. And, as a last feature in the purely scien- 

 tific history of the frogs and toads, it may be remarked that these ani- 

 mals are known to live for long periods. One pet toad is mentioned 

 by a Mr. Arscott as having attained, to his knowledge, the age of 

 thirty-six years ; and a greater age still might have been recorded of 

 this specimen, but for the untoward treatment it sustained at the hands, 

 or rather beak, of a tame raven. In all probability it may be safely 

 assumed that, when the conditions of life are favorable, these creatures 

 may attain a highly venerable age regarding the lapse of time from 

 a purely human and interested point of view. 



We may now inquire whether or not the foregoing considerations 

 may serve to throw any light upon the tales of the quarryman. The 

 first point to which attention may be directed is that involved in the 

 statement that the amphibian has been imprisoned in a solid rock. 

 Much stress is usually laid on the fact that the rock was solid ; this 

 fact being held as implying the great age, not to say antiquity, of the 

 rock and its supposed tenant. The impartial observer, after an exami- 



