126 OUR EEPTILES. 



he appeared sluggish, and not inclined to move. Presently 

 I observed him pressing his elbows hard against his sides, 

 and rubbing downwards. He appeared so singular, that I 

 watched to see what he was up to. After a few smart rubs, 

 his skin began to burst open, straight along his back. Now, 

 said I, old fellow, you have done it ; but he appeared to be 

 unconcerned, and kept on rubbing until he had worked all 

 his skin into folds on his sides and hips ; then, grasping one 

 hind leg with both his hands, he hauled off one leg of his 

 pants the same as anybody would, then stripped the other 

 hind leg in the same way. He then took this cast-off cuticle 

 forward, between his fore legs, into his mouth, and swallowed 

 it ; then, by raising and lowering his head, swallowing as 

 his head came down, he stripped off the skin underneath, 

 nntil it came to his fore legs, and then grasping one of these 

 with the opposite hand, by considerable pulling, stripped off 

 the skin ; changing hands, he stripped the other, and, by a 

 slight motion of the head, and all the while swallowing, he 

 drew it from the neck and swallowed the whole. The 

 operation seemed an agreeable one, and occupied but a short 

 time,* 



Professor Bell, in Ms "British Reptiles/' gives a 

 similar account to the above, upon the faith of his 

 own observations. As the toad generally retires 

 into his private apartments to undress himself, 

 and dispose of his old clothes, opportunities for 

 observing the process do not often occur. 



As we never kept toads in confinement long 

 together, for the purpose of observing their 

 traits of character, we have been obliged, as 



* New 'York Independent, Dec. 29, 1859. 



