86 Mr. FothergilPs Hints towards 



stance never takes place : yet if any one attentively considers the 

 structure and position of the hinder legs, he will be convinced 

 of the difficulty, if not impracticability, of bringing them to 

 bear in such an operation. The first part of the string is 

 probably extruded by a peristaltic motion of the ovarium ; and 

 when this is of a sufficient length, the female entangles the end 

 by swimming round the stalks of weeds or small twigs, which 

 when once accomplished all the difficulty is over, as she then 

 swims in any direction that may happen, taking care fre- 

 quently to surround any weeds or stalks of aquatic plants 

 capable of sufficient resistance; and as the male keeps his 

 station during the whole process (which continues several 

 days) their joint efforts in swimming are sufficient for the pur- 

 pose of delivery. Thus entangling the chain of spawn effects 

 a double purpose, by expediting the extrusion, and securing 

 it from being swept away by the current ov any inundation 

 that may take place previous to the eggs becoming tadpoles. 



The young fry having assumed their perfect form, leave the 

 water and spread over the adjoining meadows, some years in 

 countless multitudes, and are the favourite food of many birds, 

 and even of such toads as are of sufficient growth to swallow 

 them. 



Though incapable of bearing much cold, the toad is impa- 

 tient of heat, and never of choice takes up its residence for the 

 day in a situation exposed to the rays of the sun, but generally 

 in some dark corner overshadowed by the foliage of tall- 

 growing plants or shrubs, where it patiently waits like the 

 spider in its web, ready to dart its formidable tongue upon 

 any luckless insect that may come near; for during the heat 

 of the day it is rarely seen crawling abroad in search of prey; 

 yet it will greedily seize what casually comes within its reach, 

 and even pursue a little distance, but whether it succeeds or 

 is disappointed (if not disturbed) retreats to its station, and 

 often in a backward direction. Its beautiful eyes stand so 

 prominent as to enable it to see its prey from whatever quarter 

 it may approach. Its tongue when at rest is conical, very elastic 

 and capable of great elongation, and covered with glutinous 

 saliva to which small insects adhere when struck ; its basis is 

 fixed just within the anterior rim of the lower mandible, 

 and the apex extended back towards the throat, in which it 

 differs from every English reptile the writer is acquainted with, 

 the frog excepted, which takes its food in the same manner, 

 but, being endowed with superior locomotive powers, does not 

 use its tongue with the admirable dexterity of the toad. In 

 the upper and lower mandible are two protuberances, by 

 means of which it instantly squeezes to death bees and wasps 

 previous to deglutition. Its 



