2l8 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



" I went (he says) to the large market in the Faubourg St. Germain, 

 and inquired for frogs. I was referred to a stately-looking dame at 

 at a fish-stall, who produced a box nearly full of them, huddling 

 and crawling about, and occasionally croaking, as though aware of 

 the fate to which they were destined. The price fixed was two a 

 penny, and having ordered the dish to be prepared, the dame de la 

 hatte dived her hand in among them and having secured her victim 

 by the hind-legs, she severed him in twain with a sharp knife ; the 

 legs, minus skin, still struggling were placed on a dish ; and the head 

 with the fore-legs affixed, retained life and motion, and performed 

 such motions that the operation became painful to look at. These 

 legs were afterwards cooked at the restaurateur's, being served up 

 fried in bread-crumbs, as larks are in England ; and most excellent 

 eating they were, tasting more like the delicate flesh of the rabbit 

 than anything else I can think of. I afterwards tried a dish of the 

 common English frog, but his flesh is not so white nor so tender as 

 his French brother." 



COMMON TOAD. Plentiful all over Shropshire. So 

 Bufo vulgaris. deeply rooted is the prejudice against 



toads that few persons will venture to 

 handle one, even though they know that it is quite 

 harmless. Certainly we cannot plead that it is possessed 

 of any personal beauty, or even that its appearance is at 

 all " pleasant to the eye." Its leaden hue, warty skin, 

 short legs, and heavy thick-set form, inspire only feelings 

 of aversion and disgust. Yet we can truthfully say that 

 the Toad is quite as useful to the gardener as the Frog, 

 in keeping down slugs and insect pests. This fact is 

 recognised by many intelligent gardeners, who encourage 

 Toads to stay amongst the beds, and even fetch them to 

 place in greenhouses and frames. The ugliness of the 

 Toad actually stands it in good stead, for it repels 

 animals and birds that eat its prettier cousin, the Frog. 

 Even more efficient protection is afforded, though, by the 



