704 



A HISTORY OF 



or emitting any juice from their pimples. 

 Sometimes, upon taking it up, it would let 

 out a great quantity of clear water, which, as 

 I have often seen it do the same upon the 

 steps when quite quiet, was certainly its 

 urine, and no snore than a natural evacuation. 

 Spiders, tnillipeds, and flesh maggots, seem 

 to bo lliis animal's favourite food. 1 imagine 

 if a hoc was to be put before a toad, it would 

 certainly eat it t*j its cost; but as bees are 

 seldom stirring at the same time that toads 

 are, they rarely come in their way ; as they 

 do not appear after sun-rising, or before sun- 

 set. In the heat of the day they will come 

 to the mouth of their hole, I believe for air. 

 f once, from my parlour window, observed a 

 large toad I had in the bank of a bowling- 

 green, about twelve at noon in a very hot 

 day, very busy and active upon the grass. 

 So uncommon an appearance made me go 

 out to see what it was; when I found an in- 

 numerable swarm of winged ants had drop- 

 ped round his hole; which temptation was 

 as irresistible as a turtle would be to a luxu- 

 rious* alderman. In respect to its end, had it 

 not been for a tame raven, I make no doubt 

 but it would have been now living. This 

 bird, one day seeing it at the mouth of its 

 hole, pulled it out, and, although I rescued 

 it, pulled out one eye, and hurt it so, that 

 notwithstanding its living a twelvemonth, it 

 never enjoyed itself, and had a difficulty of 

 taking its food, missing the mark for want of 

 its eye. Before that accident, it had all the 

 appearance of perfect health." 



To this account of the toad's inoffensive 

 qualities, I will add another from Valisnieri, 

 to show that, even taken internally, the toad 

 is no way dangerous. "In the year 1692, 

 some German soldiers, who had taken pos- 

 session of the castle of Arceti, finding that 

 the peasants of the country often amused 

 themselves in catching frogs, and dressing 

 them for the table ; resolved to provide them- 

 selves with a like entertainment, and made 

 preparations for frog fishing, in the same 

 manner. It may easily be supposed that the 

 Italians and their German guests were not 

 very fond of each other; and indeed it is 



* Raesel tried a frog ; it swallowed the bee alive : its 

 tomaoh was stung, and the animal vomited it up again. 



natural to think that the soldiers gave the 

 poor people of the country iminy good rea- 

 sons for discontent. They were not a little 

 pleased, therefore, when they saw them go 

 to a ditch where toads instead of frogs were 

 found in abundance. The Germans, no way 

 distinguishing in their sport, caught them in 

 great numbers; while the peasants kept 

 looking on, silently flattering themselves 

 with the hopes of speedy revenge. After be- 

 ing brought home, the toads were dressed up 

 after the Italian fashion: the peasants were 

 quite happy at seeing their tyrants devour 

 them with so good an appeiite, and expected 

 every moment to see them drop down dead. 

 But what was their surprise to find, that the 

 Germans continued as well as ever, and only 

 complained of a slight excoriation of the lips, 

 which probably arose from some other cause 

 than that of their repast." 



I will add another story, from Soleriander; 

 who tells us, that a tradesman of Rome and 

 his wife had long lived together with mutual 

 discontent; the man was dropsical, and the 

 woman amorous : this ill-matched society 

 promised soon, by the very infirm state of the 

 man, to have an end ; but the woman was 

 unwilling to wait the progress of the disorder; 

 and therefore concluded that, to get rid of 

 her husband, nothing was left her but poison. 

 For this purpose, she chose out a dose that 

 she supposed would be the most effectual; 

 and having calcined some toads, mixed their 

 powder with his drink. The man, after 

 taking a hearty dose, found no considerable 

 inconvenience, except that it greatly promo- 

 ted urine. His wife, who considered this as 

 a beginning symptom of the venom, resolved 

 not to stint the next dose, but gave it in 

 greater quantities than before. This also 

 increased the former symptom ; and, in a few 

 days, the woman had the mortification to see 

 her detested husband restored to perfect 

 health ; and remained in utter despair of 

 ever being a widow. 



From all this it will appear with what in- 

 justice this animal has hitherto been treated. 

 It has undergone every kind of reproach; 

 and mankind have been taught to consider 

 as an enemy, a creature that destroys that 

 insect tribe which are their real invaders. 

 We are to treat, therefore, as fables, those 



