87 



crevices in which toads are found entombed), and in such 

 quantities that the animal might exist and grow. 



Dr. Buckland's interesting experiments (1825-1827) with 

 imprisoned toads were entirely directed against the well known 

 theories that entombed toads had existed from the Geological 

 era, when the matrix which enclosed them was supposed to have 

 formed around them. 



It is useless now to discuss this question, because every 

 reasonable person now realizes the absurdity of the supposi- 

 tion of a living toad becoming the nucleus of a flint nodule at 

 the bottom of the ocean, or being preserved alive in hollows in 

 the Coal Measures (from the time of their original formation), 

 where all associated remains show evidence of the enormous 

 pressure to which they have been subjected. 



Dr. Buckland's experiments are, however, very interesting, 

 and an abstract of his records are here given. 



" On the curious question, whether toads live, as reported, in 

 holes in stones. Dr. Buckland, of Oxford, has published an 

 account of some rather cruel experiments, namely : 



On the 26th of November, 1825, he placed one live toad in 

 each of twenty-four cells, twelve in coarse, and twelve in compact 

 siliceous limestone, with a double cover of glass and slate placed 

 over each of them, and cemented down by the luting of clay. 



The weight of each toad, in grains, was ascertained, and the 

 large and small ones were distributed in equal proportion between 

 the limestone and the sandstone cells. 



These blocks of stone were then buried together beneath 

 three feet of earth, and remained unopened until the loth of 

 December, 1826. 



Every toad in the smaller cells of the compact sandstone was 

 dead, and the bodies of most of them so much decayed that they 

 must have been dead some months. 



The greater number of those in the larger cells of porous 

 limestone were alive. No. 1, whose weight when immured was 

 924 grains, now weighed only 698 grains. 



No. 5, whose weight when immured was 1,185 grains, now 

 weighed 1,265 grains. The glass cover over this cell was slightly 

 cracked, so that minute insects might have entered ; none, how- 

 ever, were discovered in this cell. 



But in another cell, whose glass was broken, and the animal 

 within it dead, there was a large assemblage of minute insects, and 

 a similar assemblage also on the outside of the glass of a third 

 cell. 



In No. 9, a toad, which weighed 988 grains, had increased 

 to 1,116 grains, and the glass cover over it was entire. No. 11, 

 had decreased from 936 grains to 652. 



Before the expiration of a second year, all the large ones also 

 were dead. 



