THE COMMON TOAD. 



ther. From the long grass we arouse numbers of Meadow Pipits; and out 

 of the small groups of bushes which are visible here and there^ is borne 

 the monotonous cry of the vagrant Cuckoo. 



But it is not in mountain scenery alone that the Oologist finds pleasure; 

 the wood, orchard, and meadow, the old ruin, and the river's bank, alike 

 aflbrd him delight, and I confess that it will take more than ordinary 

 persuasion to induce rae to believe that this delightful pursuit can be 

 anything but a source of gratification and instruction to mankind. That 

 it is daily becoming more extensively known and practised is evident; it 

 has even added a new branch to our trades — that of an egg-dealer, and 

 has obtained such a number of supporters from those who are in the highest 

 sense of the word Naturalists, that we must suppose that so long as a 

 love for Ornithology exists, so must it also for the sister science Oology. 



I will hereafter, D. V., say a few words on the actual collecting and 

 arranging of eggs. 



I should say that the eggs mentioned by a correspondent this month as 

 being somewhat like those of the Nightingale, but less bulky, were decidedly 

 those of the Sedge Warbler; some in my own collection are very nearly 

 as dark in colour as those of P. luscinia, and are all marked with black 

 hair-like lines. 



Richmond, October. 



THH COMMON TOAD, (BUFA VULGARIS.) 

 By J. m'intosh, esq. 



The Common Toad, {Bufa vulgaris,) is one of the unfortunate reptilia 

 that is unjustly, I may say ignorantly, considered "the most deformed and 

 hideous of all animals;" and what is worse, the butt for every idle and 

 ignorant barbarian to aim at ! Indeed it is quite remarkable in the nine- 

 teenth century, celebrated as it is for its free and universal difi"usion of 

 knowledge; — but not a knowledge of the beautiful works of creation, I am 

 reluctantly compelled to say. Nor is there any chance of the rising gen- 

 eration that is, and is to come, becoming more enlightened or rational con- 

 cerning such things, until Natural History is made a standard part of 

 education in our schools. How many Sa^e persons do we actually find 

 afraid of this harmless and interesting reptile, who seem to have cherished 

 such prejudices from their childhood. In fact, children are taught from 

 their infancy to look upon the Toad with horror and disgust. This pro- 

 bably in part arises from the circumstance of some authors having alluded 

 to it in their writings in a doubtful manner; as Shakespeare, who, in his 

 "As you like it," says — 



VOL. VI. c 



