EELS - TOADS - VIPERS. 43 



The method in which toads procreate and bring forth, seems 

 to be very much in the dark. Some authors say that they are 

 viviparous ; and yet Ray classes them among his oviparous 

 animals, and is silent with regard to the manner of their bringing 

 forth. Perhaps they may be eda {tsv woroxo/, ggw ds fyoroxoi, 

 as is known to be the case with the viper.* 



The copulation of frogs (or at least the appearance of it 

 for Swammerdam proves that the male has no penis intrans) 

 is notorious to every body ; because we see them sticking upon 

 each other's backs, for a month together, in the spring ; and 



of this fish (the situation of the roe in most fishes) is the roe. Contrary 

 to what is found in most species of fish, this roe contains a large quantity 

 of fine oil, so free from fishy flavour, as to be commonly employed (at least 

 that found in the conger) in crust and other culinary uses in Cornwall. 

 In the fish, its use seems to be to protect the delicate sexual organs from 

 cold. The whole constitution of the eel is remarkably susceptible of 

 cold; it feels every change of temperature. There are no eels in the 

 Danube, nor in any of its tributary streams. The rivers of Siberia, 

 though large and numerous, are destitute of them." 



It appears pretty evident that eels are not viviparous, although this 

 opinion has long prevailed amongst naturalists. 



That snakes are oviparous there can be little doubt. A correspondent 

 in the Magazine of Natural History, iv. p. 268, having killed an 

 adder in Essex, opened it, and " discovered a string of eggs, fourteen 



never seen the light, were vey, an, oug, even evnce an nc- 

 nation to bite. I took some of them out of the eggs, and they soon died ; 

 but those which were laid on a piece of paper, with their envelope 

 unbroken, were alive and active many hours afterwards. As may be 



was muc nerese n wacng s moons. connue o ea, w 

 little abatement of force, for an hour, when its palpitations, though 

 strong, became less rapid; and ceased in half an hour more." ED. 



* Toads procreate exactly in the same manner as frogs, and are also 

 oviparous. The eggs are imbued by the spermatic fluid of the male, at 

 the time of their extrusion. The eggs of frogs are deposited in water, in 

 irregular congeries, while those of the toad are extruded in catinated 

 strings. Schneider, a zealous observer of nature, affirms, that toads eat 

 the skin which they cast periodically. This fact has been confirmed by 

 Mr Bell, in a paper in the Zoological Journal. 



The manner in which a frog takes his prey is very curious. When 

 he first notices a worm or fly, he makes a point at it, like a pointer dog 

 setting game. After a pause of some seconds, the frog makes a dart at 

 the worm, endeavouring to seize it with his mouth ; in which attempt 

 he frequently fails more than once, and generally waits for a short interval 

 before he renews the attack. ED. 



