4<D THE COMMON TOAD. 



to render it quite tame, so that it may be taken in 

 the hand, and carried about a room to catch the 

 flies that alight on the walls. A correspondent of 

 Mr. Pennant gave him some curious particulars of 

 a domestic Toad, which was remarked to continue 

 in the same place for upwards of thirty-six years. 

 It frequented the steps before the hall-door of a 

 gentleman's house in Devonshire. By being con- 

 stantly fed, it was rendered so tame as always to 

 come out of its hole in an evening when a candle 

 was brought, and look up, as if expecting to be 

 carried into the house, where it was frequently fed 

 with insects. An animal that is so generally de- 

 tested, being so much noticed and befriended, ex- 

 cited the curiosity of all who came to the house ; 

 and even females so far conquered the horrors in- 

 stilled into them, by their nurses, as generally to 

 request to see it fed. It appeared most partial to 

 flesh maggots, which were kept for it in bran. It 

 would follow them on the table, and, when within 

 a proper distance, would fix its eyes and remain 

 motionless for a little while, apparently to prepare 

 for the stroke, which was instantaneous. It threw 

 out its tongue to a great distance, and the insect 

 stuck by the glutinous matter to its tip, and was 

 swallowed by a motion quicker than the eye could 

 follow. This it was enabled to do from the root 

 of the tongue (as in the Frog) being attached to 

 the fore-part of the mouth, and lying, when at rest, 

 with the tip towards the throat. After being kept 

 above thirty-six years, it was at length destroyed 

 by a tame raven, which one day, seeing it at the 



