jvv OUR REPTILES. 



eight, and gave one the idea that the toad is an uncommonly 

 greedy animal. 



Having got the worm down was by no means a reason that it 

 would stay there, for I have sometimes seen a worm rather 

 larger than usual make its way up again ; however, the feet 

 would immediately go to work a second time, and the toad 

 would at length remain the undisputed possessor of its own 

 dinner. 



Frequently I used to cheat the toads by moving a small twig 

 before them. They would seize it directly, imagining it to be a 

 worm, and would regard it with stupid astonishment when they 

 discovered their mistake. 



I never had the good fortune to see my friends take beetles or 

 other small prey ; but these, the gardener told me, were never 

 seized with the mouth, but were caught with unerring aim upon 

 the point of the long tongue.* 



There is a curious twitching movement of the hind 

 toes observable in the toad whilst watching an insect 

 which he purposes making its prey. This move- 

 ment has been noticed to us by several persons who 

 have kept toads in confinement, or closely watched 

 their habits. 



Mr. Gr. Guyon, of Ventnor, has kindly communi- 

 cated to us some additional particulars of the 

 behaviour of these Batrachians under confinement. 

 There are two or three features in his letter so 

 curious, and the whole so interesting, that we think 

 no apology is needed for introducing it entire. 



My toads are sufficiently tame to sit quietly on the hand while 

 carried to the window, and there snap up the flies which they 

 are held within reach of, and in this way I often cleared my sit- 



* Hardwicke's Science (rosaij>, vol. i., p. 62. 



