APPENDIX. 893 



ordered a pit to be dug in the back part of his house, live frogs 

 were found by the workmen in beds of petrifaction. M. P., sus- 

 pecting some deceit, descended into the pit, dug the bed of the 

 rock and petrifactions, and drew out himself green frogs, which 

 were alive, and perfectly similar to what we see every day. 



"We are informed by the Fjumpean Magazine^ February 21, 1771, 

 that M. Herissan inclosed three live toads in so many cases of 

 plaster, and shut them up in a deal box, which he also covered 

 with thick plaster. On the 6th of April, 1774, having taken 

 away the plaster, he opened the box, and found the cases whole 

 and two of the toads alive. The one that died was larger than 

 the others, and had been more compressed in its case. A careful 

 examination of this experiment convinced those who had wit- 

 nessed it, that the animals were so inclosed that they could have 

 no possible communication with the external air, and that they 

 must have existed during this lapse of time without the smallest 

 nourishment. 



The Academy prevailed upon M. Herissan to repeat the experi- 

 ment. He inclosed again the two surviving toads, and placed 

 the box in the hands of the Secretary, that the Society might 

 open it whenever they should think proper. But this celebrated 

 naturalist was too strongly interested in the subject to rest satis- 

 fied with a single experiment; he made, therefore, the two fol- 

 lowing: — 



1. He placed, 15 April, 1771, two live toads in a basin of plaster, 

 which he covered with a glass case that he might observe them 

 frequently. On the 9th of the following month, he presented the 

 apparatus to the Academy. One of the toads was still living; 

 the other had died the preceding night. 



2. The same day, April 15, he inclosed another toad in a glass 

 bottle, which he buried in sand, that it might have no communi- 

 cation with the external air. This animal, which he presented to 

 the Academy at the same time, was perfectly well, and even 

 croaked whenever the bottle was shook in which he was confined. 

 It is to be lamented that the death of M. Herissan put a stop to 

 these experiments. 



We beg leave to observe upon this subject, that the power 

 which these animals appear to possess of supporting abstinence 

 for so long a time, may depend upon a very slow digestion, and, 



