COMMON TOAD, 107 



characterized, will rather find in the very peculiarities which 

 excited the spleen and disgust of our celebrated drawing-room 

 zoologist, only fresh indications of the same discriminating 

 wisdom, and the same never-failing, though often, to the 

 superficial observer, mysterious and veiled beneficence. 



The Toad belongs to a family, the sluggish habits of 

 which are remarkably distinct from those of the lithe and 

 active animals of which the Frog is the type. Terrestrial in 

 its general abode, it requires not the powerful paddles of the 

 latter to propel it rapidly through the water, and its safety 

 consists rather in concealment than in the power of escaping 

 from its enemies. It bears, in fact, the same relation to the 

 Frog that the terrestrial Salamander does to the Water 

 Newt. Like the rest of the amphibia, it becomes torpid 

 during the winter, and chooses for its retreat some retired and 

 sheltered hole, a hollow tree, or a space amongst large stones, 

 or some such place, and there remains until the return of 

 spring calls it again into a state of life and activity. Its 

 food consists of insects and worms, of almost every kind. 

 It refuses food which is not living, and, indeed, will only 

 take it at the moment when it is in motion : such at least is 

 the result of my own observations upon the habits of this 

 animal, which have been neither few nor brief. The Toad, 

 when about to feed, remains motionless, with its eyes turned 

 directly forwards upon the object, and the head a little in- 

 clined towards it, and in this attitude it remains until the 

 insect moves ; when, by a stroke like lightning, the tongue is 

 thrown forward upon the victim, which is instantly drawn 

 into the mouth. So rapid is this movement that it requires 

 some little practice as well as close observation to distin- 

 guish the diiFerent motions of the tongue. This organ is 

 constructed as in the Frog, being folded back upon itself; 

 and the under surface of the tip being embued with a viscid 



