MY TOADS. 155 



museum of beautiful objects within the digestive organs 

 of various molluscs. 



The beautiful eye of the toad is proverbial, redeem- 

 ing the ungainliness of its general aspect, and having 

 in all probability given rise to the fabled jewel within 

 the head. Bright and richly coloured as is the eye, 

 with its glowing, bold, fiery chestnut hue, it is without 

 the least vestige of expression, and retains its full 

 brilliancy long after the animal is dead. As to the 

 venomous powers of the toad, they are not to be found 

 in the mouth, as is popularly imagined, but in two 

 rather large glands on the sides of the head, which pro- 

 ject boldly, and are plainly visible. If one of these 

 protuberances be squeezed between the fingers, a 

 whitish, creamy-looking liquid will be ejected, and 

 perhaps to some little distance. While performing this 

 operation it will be as well to hold the toad in such a 

 manner that the secretion may not be shot into the 

 eyes, as in that case it would probably cause severe pain, 

 and might probably produce violent inflammation. 

 Still it will not be ejected without the employment of 

 considerable force, and is never injurious to human 

 beings. 



Briefly to sum up the character of the toad : it is 

 not pretty, is entirely harmless, extremely useful, easily 

 tamed, and worthy of being cherished by those who 

 prefer deeds to outward seeming ; it is a creature of 

 curious and interesting habits, and affords a rich field 

 to anyone with time and opportunity for clearing up 

 several important but disputed points in physiology. 



