118 BUFONIDA. 
insect is secured by its adhesive quality. When the prey 
is taken it is slightly pressed by the margins of the jaw; 
but as this seldom kills it, uniess it be a soft tender larva, 
it is generally swallowed alive ; and I have often seen the 
muscles of the Toad’s sides twitch in a very curious manner, 
from the tickling movements of a hard coleopterous insect 
in the stomach. It will also take earth-worms of consi- 
derable size, and it is a very curious sight to watch the 
manner in which the powerful and writhing worm is se- 
cured. If the Toad happen to take it by the middle, the 
extremities of the worm are twined with great force and 
activity around the muzzle in every direction, in its at- 
tempts to escape ; but the Toad pushes one portion after 
another into its mouth, by means of the fore feet, until it 
all disappears, when it is swallowed whole. 
For the following very curious and almost marvellous 
statement, I am indebted to the Rev. J. Sladen, of Ninfield, 
who kindly communicated it to me in the following letter, 
which I give verbatim and entire, and without attempting 
to account for the extraordinary fact :— 
€- Sin, Ninfield, Sussex, Feb. 14, 1836. 
‘“‘As you are now engaged in writing a history of British 
Reptiles, Iam induced to send you an account of a fact 
that has lately come to my knowledge, thinking it may be 
thought by you worth recording. 
‘The fact I have to relate was witnessed in the month 
of August 1814, and the scene of it was the Fairlight 
Downs, near Hastings; the exact spot being part of an 
open and bald height facing the sea, and looking down upon 
a glen covered with brambles, &c. The hour was about 
noon, and the sun was shining powerfully at the time. 
“A gentleman was taking a walk with two companions, 
