516 THE PHILOSOPHY 



As to the age of Reptileiy probably from the uninterefting 

 nature of the animals, we have very little information. But 

 two letters of J. Arfcott, Efq. j of Tehott in Devonfhire, 

 concerning the longevity of a toad, deferve fome notice. 

 Thefe letters were addrefled to Dr. Mille?, Dean of Exeter, 

 and by him communicated to Mr. Pennant in the year 1 768 : 

 It would give me the greateft pleafure,' fays Mr. Arfcott, ' to 

 be able to inform you of any particulars worthy Mr. Pen- 

 nant's notice, concerning the toad who lived fo many years 

 with us, and was fo great a favourite. It had frequented 

 fome fteps before the hall-door fome years before my ac- 

 quaintance commenced with it, and had been admired by 

 my father for its iize, (which was of the largeft I ever met 

 with), who conftantly paid it a vifit every evening. I knew 

 it myfelf above thirty years, and, by conftantly feeding itj 

 brought it to be fo tame, that it always came to the candle, 

 and looked up, as if eXpedling to be taken up and brought 

 upon the table, where I always fed it with infefts of all 

 forts. You may imagine that a toad, generally detefted, 

 (although one of the moft inotfenlive of all animals), fo 

 much taken notice of and befriended, excited the curiofity 

 of all comers to the houfe, who all delired to fee it fed ; fo 

 that even ladies fo far conquered the horrors inftilled into 

 them by nurfes, as to delire to fee it*.' In the fecond letter, 

 Mr. Arfcott remarks, < I cannot fay how long my father had 

 been acquainted with the toad before I knew it ; but, when 

 I was firft acquainted with it, he ufed to mention it as the 

 old toad I have known fo many years ; I can anfwer for 

 thirtj'fix yearsf .' < In refpe£t to its end, had it not been 

 for a tame raven, I make no doubt but it would have been 

 now living, who one day, feeing it at the mouth of its hole, 

 pulled it out, and, though I refcued it, pulled out one eye, 



* Pennant's Brltifli Zoology, vol. 3. page 323. 

 t Ibid, page 3.46. 



