FROGS. TOADS. 69 



I have been informed also, from undoubted authority, that 

 some ladies (ladies, you will say, of peculiar taste) took a 

 fancy to a toad, which they nourished, summer after summer, 

 for many years, till he grew to a monstrous size, with the 



had not made its appearance from its unknown winter retreat, and consequently 

 was supposed to have died, as it was not likely to wander from a spot with 

 which it had become so familiar. 



Mr. Husenbeth has given a very interesting account of a tame toad which 

 he placed " in a large glass jar, with moss at the bottom, and sometimes water 

 enough to saturate the moss, but oftener with only a piece of green sod, which 

 I changed," he says, " when the grass began to wither. Sometimes I contrived 

 to let him have a little well of water in the sod ; but I never saw him go into 

 water freely ; only when he was frightened, he would plunge in and bury his 

 head at the bottom under the sod. Whether he ever knew me I much doubt; 

 but certainly he was always perfectly tame, and would sit on my hand, let me 

 stroke him, and walk about my table or carpet with apparent familiarity and 

 contentment. I usually let him out on the table every day; and he would 

 jump down upon the carpet, and hop and crawl about, always making for the 

 skirting board, which he climbed very ludicrously, and seemed fond of sitting 

 in a corner on the top of it. He ate freely, from the first day I had him ; but 

 would never take any thing unless he saw it move. In the whole time, I gave 

 him all the following varieties : flies of all kinds ; wasps and bees, first remov- 

 ing their stings ; gnats, which he would snap up at the window, while I held 

 him on my hand up to the pane of glass, with an eagerness that appeared 

 insatiable, and was very amusing ; clap-baits, lady-birds, caddices, ants : of 

 these last I used occasionally to give him a treat, by bringing home part of a 

 hillock, and putting him down in the midst of it. He would raise himself on 

 all fours, and with his eyes glistening with something like civic ecstasy, would 

 dart out his tongue right and left, as rapidly as lightning, and lap up the ants 

 in quick succession, with the most laudable gulosity. I also gave him earwigs, 

 glow-worms, woodlice, grasshoppers, spiders, dragon-flies, ticks, horse-leeches, 

 grubs, moths, and any insect I could meet with. All seemed equally welcome, 

 either by night or by day ; but it was most diverting to see him contend with 

 a worm. He would dart upon it, secure one end, and swallow with all his 

 might ; but the worm would annoy him by creeping out of his mouth before 

 he could swallow it entirely ; and I have known him persevere for nearly 

 half an hour, attempting to secure his prize, while the worm kept constantly 

 escaping. He would take a snail, when he once saw it extended and in 

 motion, though he always dashed at the shell, and took all down together in a 

 moment, but could not manage one of large size. It was to me a great source 

 of amusement to feed him and watch his singular movements. He was often 

 frightened, but seldom provoked. I once or twice, however, provoked him, I 

 think, to as much wrath as his cold nature was susceptible of; but I feel quite 

 assured that the toad is at all times perfectly harmless and inoffensive : the 

 idea of its spitting, or otherwise discharging venom is, I am convinced, wholly 

 unfounded. In the winter months my toad always refused food, though he did 

 not become torpid, but grew thin and moved much less than at other times. 



