June] RITCHIE — ON THE TOAD. 175 



blood to run into its proper place, for fear of a beast so contrary 

 to nature." 



In our day, however, the properties of this animal are better 

 understood, although to a great extent it is still held to be 

 venomous by the people, and generally killed wherever it is found. 



Recent investigations go to prove that an acrid secretion covers 

 the body of the toad, which is the cause of sore mouths in dogs 

 attacking it. One of the great uses of the toad is its propensity 

 for destroying insects injurious to vegetation. Our gardeners 

 ought to introduce them into their gardens and cultivate the 

 acquaintance of these creatures ; their little trouble in so doing 

 would be amply compensated. 



The toad is of a retiring disposition, loving dark corners and 

 shady places. It has a slow, crawling motion, and is of a very 

 timid disposition. Numerous instances might be cited of pet 

 toads, and of their becoming quite tame. 



The toad differs in some respects from the nearly related frog. 

 The structure of the mouth is, however, nearly the same ; the 

 tongue is attached by the root, as it were, to the base and 

 front of the mouth, the tip being reversed and pointing down 

 the throat when the animal is at rest. 



The moment it sees an insect its eyes brighten and sparkle, the 

 toes twitch, and quicker than the eye can follow, the tongue is 

 thrown out, the insect transfixed, and withdrawn into the mouth. 



Unlike the frog, the toad does not spring after its prey, but 

 remains seated. Having kept frogs in the Aquarium, I have 

 noticed that they will spring two or three times their own length 

 from the mos^ to catch a fly on the glass, using their tongue, as it 

 were, on the jump. They seldom miss their mark. As far as 

 my experience goes, neither of these animals will eat anything 

 without life or motion. I have, however, often deceived a frog 

 by moving a dead fly in the sight of the creature, which it 

 always took readily. Many stories have been told of toads in 

 rocks, and reasons have been given by authors as to the way in 

 which they became so embedded. My subject has, however, 

 nothing to do with these " old great toads," but to one of our 

 own day and generation. After this digression, I shall now 

 introduce my friend, the toad, in his capacity as a collector of 

 beetles. 



The true naturalist, in the pursuit of his study, is a very teachable 

 individual ; he never refuses assistance from any one, whatever his 



