206 



TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 



Alarmed by the piercing cry, it had come to a stand- 

 still, and remained there calmly, as if contemplating 

 the terrified domestic. 



"Oh, sir, you do not see it," added Dame Theresa. 

 ' The beast, the venomous beast ! " * 



"No, no, you cockney, no," the doctor said in a 



MONOTKEMATA : SPINY ECHIDNA. 



paternal manner; u toads are only slightly venomous, 

 even when handled, and when not actually touched are 



According to the experiments of Professor Vulpian, the poison of the 

 toad, secreted by certain cutaneous glands, can only be active when it is 

 inoculated. This inoculation may induce death in animals of small size, 

 especially in rats and guinea-pigs. Death in such cases seems due to 

 stoppage of the action of the heart. Author's note. 



