28 



BATRACHIANS. 



has occasionally been tamed ; but these occasions have been rare. 

 Pennant, the zoologist, relates some curious details respecting a 

 poor Toad, which took refuge under the staircase of a house. It 

 was accustomed to come every evening into a dining-room near to 

 the place of its retreat. When it saw the light it allowed itself to 

 be placed on a table, where they gave it worms, wood-lice, and 

 various insects. As no attempt was made to injure it, there were 

 no signs of irritation when it was touched, and it soon became, 

 from its gentleness (the gentleness of a Toad !), the object of 



Fig. 8. — Surinam Toad (Pipa monstrosa). 



general curiosity ; even ladies stopped to see this strange animal . 

 The poor Batrachian lived thus for six and thirty years ; and it 

 would probably have lived much longer had not a Crow, tamed, 

 and, like it, a guest in the house, attacked him at the entrance 

 of his hole, and put out one of his eyes. From that time he 

 languished, and died at the end of a year. 



Nearly allied to the Toads, Bif/o, the Surinam Toad, Fipa, holds 

 its place. Its physiognomy is at once hideous and peculiarly 



