THE COMMON TOAD. 129 



for immense periods of time are proven. Mr. 

 Edward Newman, of The Zoologist, we believe 

 has, more than once or twice, inquired into the 

 particulars of such accounts, and invariably found 

 a flaw, and such a flaw as to prevent his coming 

 to the conclusion to which such accounts tend. 

 Whilst he and they are too good students of 

 nature to deny, or strive to mystify, what they 

 do not comprehend, they look too closely at facts, 

 and are too chary of deductions, without sound 

 foundation, to accept mere affirmations in lieu of 

 proof. All we can say is " It may be so, and 

 it may not. 33 The latter alternative seems the 

 most probable. 



The " toad stone 33 or " toad's jewel " was one 

 of the superstitions of a superstitious age, alluded 

 to in the lines 



Sweet are the uses of adversity, 



Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 



Wears yet a precious jewel in his head. 



it having been supposed that in the head of the 

 toad was to be found a wonderful stone, which 

 was strong in curative power and magical virtue. 

 The most singular supposed association of 

 toads with some kinds of fungi, whence the 

 latter have been said to derive their name of 

 " toadstools/'' evidently arose in a mistaken 

 and foolish application of a new sense to an old 



K 



