88 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



toads particulars of considerable importance in view of the 

 suggestions and explanations to be presently brought forward. 

 Smellie himself, whilst inclined to be sceptical in regard to 

 the truth or exactness of many of the tales told of the vitality 

 of toads, yet regards the matter as affording food for re- 

 flection, since he remarks, " But I mean not to persuade, 

 for I cannot satisfy myself; all I intend is, to recommend to 

 those gentlemen who may hereafter chance to see such rare 

 phenomena, a strict examination of every circumstance that 

 can throw light upon a subject so dark and mysterious; for 

 the vulgar, ever inclined to render uncommon appearances 

 still more marvellous, are not to be trusted." 



This author strikes the key-note of the inquiry in his 

 concluding words, and we shall find that the explanation 

 of the matter really lies in the clear understanding of what 

 are the probabilities, and what the actual details, of the 

 cases presented for consideration. We may firstly, then, 

 glance at a few of the peculiarities of the frogs and toads, 

 regarded from a zoological point of view. As every one 

 knows, these animals emerge from the egg (Fig. 8), in the 

 form of little fish-like "tadpoles," provided with outside 

 gills, which are soon replaced by inside gills, resembling 

 those of fishes. The hind legs are next developed, and 

 the fore limbs follow a little later ; whilst, with the de- 

 velopment of lungs, and the disappearance of the gills 

 and tail, the animal leaves the water, and remains for the 

 rest of its life an air-breathing, terrestrial animal. Then, 

 secondly, in the adult frog or toad, the naturalist would 

 point to the importance of the skin as not only supple- 

 menting, but, in some cases, actually supplanting the work 

 of the lungs as the breathing organ. Frogs and toads 

 will live for months under water, and will survive the ex- 

 cision of the lungs for like periods ; the skin in such cases 

 serving as the breathing surface. A third point worthy of 

 remembrance is included in the facts just related, and is 

 implied in the information that these animals can exist for 

 long periods without food, and with but a limited supply of 



