120 BUFONID.E. 



circumstances connected with this process, which I detailed 

 many years ago to the Zoological Club of the Linnean So- 

 ciety, and of which the following is the substance. Having 

 often found, amongst several Toads which I was then keep- 

 ing for the purpose of observing their habits, some of 

 brighter colours than usual, and with the surface moist and 

 very smooth, I had supposed that this appearance might 

 have depended upon the state of the animars health, or 

 the influence of some peculiarity in one or other of its 

 functions : on watching carefully, however, I one day ob- 

 served a large one, the skin of which was particularly dry 

 and dull in its colours, with a bright streak down the mesial 

 line of the back ; and on examining further I discovered a 

 corresponding line along the belly. This proved to arise 

 from an entire slit in the old cuticle which exposed to view 

 the new and brighter skin underneath. Finding, there- 

 fore, what was about to happen, I watched the whole de- 

 tail of this curious process. I soon observed that the two 

 halves of the skin, thus completely divided, continued to 

 recede further and further from the centre, and become 

 folded and rugose ; and after a short space, by means of 

 the continued twitching of the animaFs body, it was brought 

 down in folds on the sides. The hinder leg, first on one 

 side and then on the other, was brought forward under 

 the arm, which was pressed down upon it, and on the 

 hinder limb being withdrawn, its cuticle was left inverted 

 under the arm ; and that of the anterior extremity was 

 now loosened, and at length drawn off by the assistance of 

 the mouth. The whole cuticle was thus detached, and 

 was now pushed by the two hands into the mouth in a 

 little ball, and swallowed at a single gulp. I afterwards 

 had repeated opportunities of watching this curious pro- 

 cess, which did not materially vary in any instance. 



