104 



NAIRN. 



who live in a cask of water in the yard catch the flies when they 

 settle near them. The toad, on seeing a fly, creeps up with great 

 caution till within an inch or two, and then, with a motion so rapid 

 that the eye cannot follow it, the fly is caught and swallowed. 

 Apparently the toad darts out his tongue, but it is impossible to 

 see exactly how the fly is caught. All one sees is a rapid open- 

 ing and shutting of the toad's mouth, down which the fly (which 

 was an inch or more from it) disappears as if by magic. 



The frogs also feed on the flies, but do not catch and 

 swallow them with the same wonderful quickness. 



