114 BITFONID.E. 



there is a large venous plexus, seeming to indicate that the 

 subcutaneous distribution of the second branch of the pul- 

 monary artery may further aid the office of the lungs by 

 bringing the blood to the surface to be acted upon by the 

 air."* 



I have extracted the latter part of this passage to show how 

 beautifully the independent observations of two physiologists, 

 so eminent as Dr. Davy and Dr. William Edwards, bear 

 upon and illustrate each other ; as will be obvious to every 

 one who recollects the account I have already given of the 

 cutaneous respiration of the amphibia, as discovered and ex- 

 plained by the last-named philosopher. 



The usual pace of the Toad is neither leaping nor running, 

 it is rather a kind of crawl ; and on being alarmed, or threat- 

 ened with danger, it stops, swells its body, and, on its being 

 handled, a portion of the cutaneous secretion, which I have 

 just mentioned, exudes from the follicles, and a discharge of 

 the limpid water, which has been before alluded to, imme- 

 diately takes place. Its quickest movement is an imperfect 

 leap. 



The general form of the Toad is certainly far from pre- 

 possessing. The body is puffed out and swollen ; the head 

 large, flat on the top ; the muzzle rounded, and very obtuse. 

 There are no teeth either in the jaw bones, or on the palate. 

 There is above the eyes a slight protuberance, studded with 

 pores ; and the parotids are large, thick, prominent, and 

 porous, secreting an acrid fluid. Body covered with warts, 

 which are larger above, and more numerous beneath. Fore 

 feet with four toes, not at all palmated ; hind legs of moderate 

 length ; the toes five in number, and slightly palmated. The 

 colours are liable to some variation, but are always much 

 lighter and brighter immediately after the removal of the old 



* Abstracts of the Phil. Trans. Part II. p. 263. For the wliole paper see 

 the Phil. Trans, for 1826, Part II. p. 127. 



