314 Rey. Dr. Buckland on the Vitality of 
Art. XLI. On the Vitality of Toads enclosed in Stone and 
Wood. By the Rev. W. Buckranp, F.R.S., F.L.S., 
F.G.S8, and Professor of Geology and Mineralogy in the 
University of Oxford. 
In the month of November, 1825, [commenced the following experi- 
ments with a view to explain the frequent discoveries of Toads enclosed 
within blocks of stone and wood, in cavities that are said to have no 
communication with the external air. 
In one large block of coarse oolitic limestone, (the Oxford oolite from 
the quarries of Heddington) twelve circular cells were prepared each 
about one foot deep and five inches in diameter, and having a groove or 
shoulder at its upper margin fitted to receive a circular plate of glass, and 
a circular slate to protect the glass; the margin of this double cover was 
closed round and rendered impenetrable to air and water by a luting of 
soft clay. Twelve smaller cells, each six inches deep and five inches in 
diameter, were made in another block of compact siliceous sandstone, 
viz. the Pennant Grit of the Coal formation near Bristol; these cells also 
were covered with similar plates of glass and slate cemented at the edge 
by clay. The object of the glass covers was to allow the animals to be 
inspected, without disturbing the clay so as to admit external air or insects 
into the cell. The Limestone is so porous that it is easily permeable by 
water, and probably also by air; the sandstone is very compact. 
On the 26th of November, 1825, one live Toad was placed in each of 
the above mentioned twenty-four cells, and the 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 noted by Dr. Daubeny 
and Mr. Dillwyn at the time of their being placed in the cells; that of 
the smallest was 115 grains, and of the largest 1185 grains. The large 
and small animals were distributed in equal proportion between the lime- 
stone and the sandstone cells. 
These blocks of stone were buried together in my garden beneath three 
feet of earth, and remained unopened until the 10th of December, 1826, 
on which day they were examined. Every ‘Toad in the smaller cells of 
