THE COMMON TOAD. ] 15 



Before adverting more particularly to the habits 

 of this animal, we will endeavour to give a brief 

 epitome of what is known of the secretions of the 

 toad, which were in part, perhaps, the basis of the 

 belief in its injurious character. 



Dr. Davy thinks that the principal use of this poison is to 

 defend the reptile against the attacks of carnivorous animals. 

 He also remarks that, as it contains an inflammable substance, it 

 may be excrementitious ; it may serve to carry off a portion of 

 carbon from the blood, and thus be auxiliary to the functions of 

 the lungs. In support of this idea, the author observes that he 

 finds each of the pulmonary arteries of the toad divided into 

 two branches, one of which goes to the lungs, and the other to 

 the cutis, ramifying most abundantly where the largest follicles 

 are situated, and where there is a large venous plexus, seeming 

 to indicate that the subcutaneous distribution of the second 

 branch of the pulmonary artery may further aid the office of the 

 lungs, by bringing the blood to the surface to be acted upon by 

 the air.* 



The viscid exudation from the skin in this kind 

 of Batrachian is regarded as a kind of poison. It 

 appears to answer as a defence to an animal which 

 has no other means of defending itself; but, as 

 there are no provisions for inoculation of the fluid, 

 it cannot be employed as a means of attack. 

 According to M. Moquin Tandon, it is a thick, 

 viscid, milky fluid, with a slight yellow tint, and 

 poisonous odour. It has a disagreeable caustic, 

 bitter taste ; becomes solid on exposure to air, and 



* "Philos. Trans, for 1826." pt. ii., p. 127. 



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