258 ANOURA. — BUFONlDiE. 



years before my acquaintance commenced with 

 it, and had been admired by my father for its 

 size (being the largest I ever met with), who 

 constantly paid it a visit every evening. I knew 

 it myself upwards of thirty years ; and, by 

 constantly feeding it, brought it to be so tame, 

 that it always came to the candle and looked 

 up, as if expecting to be taken up and brought 

 upon the table, where I always fed it upon 

 insects of all sorts. It was fondest of flesh- 

 maggots, which I kept in bran : it would follow 

 them, and when within a proper distance, would 

 fix its eyes, and remain motionless for near a 

 quarter of a minute, as if preparing for the 

 stroke, which was an instantaneous throwing 

 of its tongue at a great distance upon the 

 insect, which stuck to the tip by a glutinous 

 matter. The motion is quicker than the eye 

 can follow. I cannot say how long my father 

 had been acquainted with the Toad before I 

 knew it ; but when I was first acquainted with 

 it, he used to mention it as * the old Toad 1 

 have known for so many years.' I can answer 

 for thirty-six years." The end of this Toad 

 was somewhat tragical. A tame Raven seeing 

 it at the mouth of its hole, pulled it out, and 

 before help could come, destroyed one of its 

 eyes, and so injured it, that, though it survived 

 a year, it never enjoyed itself again, nor could 

 take its prey with the same precision as before. 

 Up to that accident it had seemed to be in 

 perfect health. 



