BRITISH AMPHIBIANS 



That the Toad exudes a sticky secretion from its skin, 

 for the purpose of protecting itself from enemies, is quite 

 true, but it even ceases to do this harmless act when it 

 realises that no danger is likely to come to it. The 

 tongue, too, is coated with a viscous substance to enable 

 the amphibian to more easily capture its prey, and this 

 has given rise to many misconceptions. Gilbert White 

 of Selborne was sorely puzzled as to the supposed veno- 

 mous character of the Toad, but many extraordinary 

 things were still believed in his day which have since 

 been entirely exploded. Yet, it should be recognised 

 that some good was thought of the Toad in the days of 

 the stage coach and wind-mills, for we are told that, in 

 White's time, the foul and apparently incurable disease 

 of cancer was actually cured by the application of a 

 Toad to the affected person. A curious superstition, 

 or belief, still existent in country districts has reference 

 to the sudden appearance of showers of Frogs, but the 

 phenomenon is due to the fact already referred to of 

 armies of young Frogs migrating from the pond in which 

 they were born, and as these marches often take place in 

 rainy or showery weather, the illusion is all the more 

 complete. 



Newts, inoffensive and sluggish creatures at all times, 



are not immune from these old-time fallacies, and the 



whole subject is brim full of interest as revealing how an 



animal's blameless character can be distorted. It is the 



way of the world to-day in human life and endeavour. 



A man, or woman's, good deeds are woefully, or in- 

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