KXISTENCE OF TOADS. 189 



from the period of their inhumation, were examined. Every Toad in the 

 smaller cells of the sandstone block was dead, and so much decayed that 

 they must have been dead for some months. The greater part of those in 

 the larger cells of the oolitic block were alive. No. 1, which weighed when 

 placed in its cell nine hundred and twenty-four grains, was reduced to six 

 Imndred and ninety-eight grains. No. 5, whose weight at the same period 

 was one thousand one hundred and eighty-five grains, had increased, it is 

 asserted, to one thousand two hundred and sixty-five grains. Dr. Buckland 

 observes, that the glass cover over this Toad's cell was slightly cracked, so 

 that minute insects might have entered; but none were discovered therein. 

 In another cell, the glass of which was broken, and its tenant dead, there 

 was a large assemblage of minute insects; and a similar assemblage was observed 

 also on the outside of the glass of a third cell. In the cell No. 9, a Toad 

 which weighed at its entrance nine hundred and eighty-eight grains, had 

 increased to one thousand one hundred and sixteen grains. The glass cover 

 of this cell was entire, but the luting that secured it was not attentively 

 examined; and Dr. Buckland observes, that it is probable that there was 

 some aperture by which small insects found admission. No. 11 had decreased 

 from nine hundred and thirty-six to six hundred and fifty-two grains. 



The result of Dr. Buckland's experiments was, that all the Toads, both 

 large and small, enclosed in sandstone, and the small Toads in the limestone, 

 were dead at the end of thirteen months, a fate which befel all the large 

 ones also, before the expiration of the second year. These last were examined 

 several times during the second year, through the glass covers of their cells, 

 but without removing them to admit air* they appeared always awake, with 

 open eyes, and never in a state of torpor; but at each successive examination 

 they became more and more meagre, till at last they were found dead. 

 The two Toads which, when first examined, had increased in weight, and 

 were at the end of the first year carefully closed up again, were not exempt 

 from the common annihilation, but were emaciated and dead before the 

 expiration of the second year. 



When Dr. Buckland enclosed these Toads in . stone, he at the same time 

 placed four other Toads, of moderate size, in three holes cut for that purpose, 

 on the north side of the trunk of an apple tree. Two were placed in the 

 largest cell, and each of the others in a single cell, the cells being nearly 

 circular, about five inches deep and three inches in diameter. These were 

 carefully closed with plugs of wood, so as to exclude access of insects, and 

 Avere apparently air-tight. Every one of the Toads, thus pegged in the knotty 

 entrails of the tree, was found dead and decayed at the end of the first year. 

 Four Toads were, at the time the others were shut up, each placed in a 

 small basin of plaster of Paris, four inches deep and five inches in diameter, 

 having a cover of the same material luted over them. These were buried 

 at the same time and in the same place with the blocks of stone, and on 

 being examined at the same time with them, in December, 1826, two of 



