316 THE TOAD. 



are often seen, in a moist summer's evening, crawling up, 

 by myriads, from fenny places, into dryer situations. There, 

 having found out a retreat, or having dug themselves one 

 with their mouth and hands, they lead a patient solitarv 

 Ike, seldom venturing out, except when the moisture of a 

 summer's evening invites them abroad. At that time the 

 grass is filled with snails, and the pathways covered with 

 worms, which make their principal food. Insects also of 

 every kind they are fond of; and we have the authority 

 of Linnaeus for it, that they sometimes continue immovea- 

 ble, with the mouth open, at the bottom of shrubs, where 

 the butterflies, in some measure fascinated, are seen to fly 

 down their throats. 



In a letter from Mr. Arscott, there are some curious par- 

 ticulars relating to this animal, which throws great light 

 upon its history. " Concerning the toad," says he, " that 

 lived so many years with us, and was so great a favorite, 

 the greatest curiosity was its becoming so remarkably 

 tame ; it had frequented some steps before our hall-door 

 some years before my acquaintance commenced with it, 

 and had been admired by my father for its size, (being the 

 largest I ever met with,) who constantly paid it a visit 

 every evening. I knew it myself above thirty years ; and 

 by constantly feeding it, brought it to be so tame, that it 

 always came to the candle, and looked up, as if expecting 

 to be taken up and brought upon the table, where I always 

 fed it with insects of all sorts. It was fondest of fresh 

 maggots, which I kept in bran ; it would follow them, and 

 when within a proper distance, would fix his eyes, and re- 

 main motionless for near a quarter of a minute, as if pre- 

 paring for the stroke, which was an instantaneous throw- 

 ing its tongue at a great distance upon the insect, which 

 stuck to the tip by a glutinous matter. The motion is 

 quicker than the eye can follow. I cannot say how long 

 nty father had been acquainted with the Toad, before I 

 knew it; but when I was first acquainted with it, he used 



