T H E T O A D. 177 



bite is faid to be very dangerous. All thefe are found in the tropical 

 climates in great abundance, and particularly after a fhower of rain ; 

 then the flreets, courts, and gardens feem entirely covered with them ; 

 thev then crawl from their retreats, and go into ail places to enjoy their 

 favourite moifturc. With us, the opinion of its raining toads and frogs 

 is juftly exploded ; is ftill entertained in the tropical countries, and that 

 not by the natives only. 



The BROWN TOAD is fmooth-fkinned, having no warts, but large 

 brown fpots which touch each other j largeft on the back. The crevice 

 for the eyes, when contradled, is vertical, inftead of horizontal. Is found 

 in marfhes : when enraged, exhales a foetid fmell, fomewhat like gun- 

 powder, (Irong enough to caufe weeping. Some have thought it mor- 

 tally venomous j this is too much i but that it may be hurtful feems 

 likely. 



The CALAMITE has two falfe nails on the foles of his feet, vchich, 

 wiih4> horny fubftance at the extremity of his toes, enable him to clamber 

 up walls, &c. feveral feet. 



The FIRE-COLOURED TOAD carries his agility yet farther ; can 

 bear day-light, and his eye then takes a triangular form, whofe outline is 

 golden. Croaks without fwelling his throat. Seems to form a link be- 

 tween the frog and the toad kinds. 



The PIPAL or SURINAM TOAD. The male and female are fo 

 different, that they may eafily be miftaken for two diftincl fpecies. The 

 male has four toes, feparate, on the front feet ; and five, mcmbraned, on 

 the hind feet. Each toe on the front foot is divided into four fmall parts 

 at its extremity. The head is fcarce diftinguifhable from the body ; the 

 opening of the gullet very large ; the eyes very fmall, and dift^nc from 

 each other, placed on the upper part of the head j head and body very 

 flat. General colour olive, more or Icfs clear, and fprinkled with very 

 niinure fpecks, red or reddifti. 



The female is much larger than the male j her head is triangular ; at 

 its bafe much larger than th^ anterior part of the body. The body is 

 commonly full throughout of very fmall warts ; is five or fix inches 

 long; in other refpefts agrees with the male. 



It was once thought that the eggs, when fornied in the ovary, were 

 lent, by fome internal canals, to he and come to maturity under the 

 bony fubflancc of the back, and, in this (late, were impregnated by the 

 male, the fkin continuing ftiil apparently entire, forming a very thick 

 covering over the whole brood i but the fad is, that after the eggs are 



impregnated 



