430 The Zoologist — October, 1866. 



leaving its back slightly projecting. In the upper half of the block of 

 coal a slight excavation was made, just sufficient to admit the small 

 projection of the back which I have already named. When these two 

 halves were placed in close apposition the toad exactly fitted the ex- 

 cavations, and the two halves of the block precisely fitted each other, 

 so as to convey the impression that the toad had been thus accidentally 

 imbedded in its present position in by-gone ages, when it might be 

 supposed that the surrounding matter was in so fluid and yielding a 

 condition as to form a mould for this batrachian reptile. Green con- 

 fidently asserted that this block of coal was from a colliery at or near 

 Osmondthorpe, and professed to know the precise number of fathoms 

 below the surface whence it was obtained. With great apparent sim- 

 plicity he detailed the various circumstances of his becoming possessed 

 of this monstrosity, by saying that when walking up Wade Lane, in 

 Leeds, behind a coal-cart, a large block of coal accidentally fell from 

 the load, and by its concussion on the pavement split into two parts, 

 — that he was thunder-struck to see a living toad in the lower half, — 

 and that he immediately seized both halves and took them home as a 

 valuable booty. On exposure to the air, however, he observed, ' the 

 toad died without a struggle.' This fellow, whose powers of assump- 

 tion were largely developed, not only succeeded, I have understood, in 

 persuading three different parties to credit his absurd and false state- 

 ment, but actually gulled them into being purchasers of what he 

 very truly, but very unintentionally, called ' unnatural productions.' It 

 is somewhat singular that these three artificial products should have 

 fallen into the hands of three reputed naturalists. 



" By the way, Green did not display his wisdom, nor his usual tact, 

 in disposing of so many specimens of his handicraft at no greater 

 distance from each other than York, Leeds and Holbeck, as of course 

 the discovery of one deception would be very likely to lead to and 

 expose the revelation of the other two. 



" This gross imposition, however strange it may appear, remained 

 undiscovered for so long a period, and the sums received for those 

 fictitious specimens were so richly remunerative, that Green was em- 

 boldened to fly at higher game, and actually hazarded a call at 

 Walton Hall, ambitiously hoping to dispose of his hitherto highly- 

 approved, although misrepresented wares, to the universally recognised 

 giant in Natural History. The foundation on which Green rested for 

 success was spurious, and he made his essay in a quarter highly gifted 

 with the powers of acutely distinctive discrimination. He dwelt too 



