116 OUR REPTILES. 



assumes the form of scales when placed on glass.* 

 M. Pelletier affirms that its acrid properties are due 

 to the presence of an acid. MM. Grratiolet and 

 Cloez performed with it some experiments on birds, 

 such as linnets and finches, which were inoculated 

 with the fluid, and died in about six minutes. They 

 were not convulsed, but opened their beaks, and 

 staggered as if in a state of drunkenness. In a short 

 time they closed their eyes as if falling to sleep, 

 and fell down dead. The same gentleman also 

 ascertained that when a small quantity of the fluid 

 was introduced beneath the skin of such mammalia 

 as the dog or goat, it caused death in less than an 

 hour. 



M. Vulpian repeated these and similar experi- 

 ments, both with the common toad and the natter- 

 jack. He inoculated dogs and guinea-pigs, and 

 found that they died in from half an hour to an 

 hour and a half. This fluid acts also as a poison on 

 frogs, and generally kills them in the course of an 

 hour ; it is sufficient to apply it externally upon 

 their backs; but upon toads themselves it has no 

 influence. 



It is said that in certain countries the Indians 

 hunt after several species of toads with pointed 

 sticks. They transfix the animals with these sticks, 



* Moquin Tandon's -'Medical Zoology," p. 287. 



