86 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



" is a great marveylle. Of that fruit," he continues, " I have 

 eten; alle thoughe it were wondirfulle" this being added, 

 no doubt, from an idea that there might possibly be some 

 stay-at-home persons who would take Sir John's statement 

 cum grano salts. " But," adds this worthy " knyght of 

 Ingelond," " I knowe wel that God is marveyllous in His 

 Werkes." Not to be behind the inhabitants of Cathay 

 in a tale of wonders, the knight related to these Easterns 

 " als gret a marveylle to hem that is amonges us ; and that 

 was of the Bernakes. For I tolde hem hat in oure Countree 

 weren Trees that beren a Fruyt, that becomen Briddes 

 (birds) fleeynge : and tho that fellen in the Water lyven 

 (live) ; and thei that fallen on the Erthe dyen anon : and thei 

 ben right gode to mannes mete (man's meat). And here 

 had thei als gret marvayle," concludes Sir John, " that sume 

 of hem trowed it were an impossible thing to be." Probably 

 the inhabitants of Cathay, knowing their own weakness as 

 regards the lamb tree, might possess a fellow-feeling for their 

 visitor's credulity, knowing well, from experience, the readi- 

 ness with which a " gret marvayle " could be evolved and 

 sustained. 



Passing from the sphere of the mythical and marvellous 

 as represented in mediaeval times, we may shortly discuss a 

 question, which, of all others, may justly claim a place in the 

 records of zoological curiosities namely, the famous and 

 oft-repeated story of the " Toad from the solid rock," as the 

 country newspapers style the incident. Regularly, year by 

 year, and in company with the reports of the sea-serpent's 

 reappearance, we may read of the discoveries of toads and 

 frogs in situations and under circumstances suggestive of a 

 singular vitality on the part of the amphibians, of more than 

 usual credulity on the part of the hearers, or of a large share 

 of inventive genius in the narrators of such tales. The 

 question possesses for every one a certain degree of interest, 

 evoked by the curious and strange features presented on the 

 face of the tales. And it may therefore not only prove an 

 interesting but also a useful study, if we endeavour to- 



