50 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Living toads found in solid substances. 



nomenon, says that some philosophers have been 

 of opinion that the eggs of these animals created 

 at the beginning of the world, and floating about 

 on the watery expanse, have since that time 

 continued inclosed in the interior parts of rocks ; 

 but he contradicts this opinion by remarking 

 that the creation of an egg is not sufficient, and 

 that it must be hatched in order to produce a 

 living creature. He considers it also as impos- 

 sible that such animals can be as old as the 

 stones or substances in which they are found; 

 and rather thinks that a hatched egg, in all the 

 cases mentioned, may have fallen by chance into 

 some small cavity where it was secured from pe- 

 trifaction. He remarks that eggs, when rubbed 

 over with varnish, so as to be defended from the 

 effects of the air, may be preserved fruitful for 

 years ; and, therefore, believes that an egg so 

 secured in the centre of a rock might retain its 

 activity for thousands of years ; hence he con- 

 cludes that the egg is of great antiquity, but not 

 the animal. When we consider, however, the 

 solidity of the substances in which these living 

 toads have been found, as has been proved by 

 indisputable authorities, we may ask, where 

 could these small cavities be, leading to the 

 centre of the rock, into which a hatched egg 

 could have fallen ? 



