On Fossils used as Ornaments. 247 
country probably less‘than three hundred years ago, and as it may 
interest some of the readers of the GrotocicaL Magazine, I give it, 
with a few prefatory remarks. 
The circular enamelled palatal fish-teeth of Lepidotus maximus, 
Wagner (Spherodus gigas, Ag.), from the Kimmeridge Clay of Shot- 
over and Kimmeridge, have long been known over a very wide 
area of Oolitic country; they are also commonly met with as 
detached teeth of large size in the rémanié Neocomian bone-bed of 
Potton, Bedfordshire. Similar enamelled fish-teeth of Lepidotus 
Mantelli from the Wealden are also well-known in many parts of 
Sussex. Four hundred years ago they had attracted the attention 
of the learned and the curious and they were regarded as precious 
stones, being called “ bufonites” or ‘‘toad-stones.” This term like 
those of ‘‘ serpents-eyes,” ‘chelonites,” ‘ batrachites,” and “ crapau- 
dines,” by which they were also known, refers to the vulgar notion 
that these organisms were originally formed in the heads of serpents, 
frogs, and toads. 
In Dr. Thomas Browne’s “Vulgar Errors” (1646), Book 3, 
chap. xili., p. 1387, the author of that curious work observes :— 
“As for the stone commonly called a ‘Toad-stone,’ which is 
presumed to be found in the head of that animall, we first conceive 
it not a thing impossible, nor is there any substantiall reason, why 
in a Toade there may not be found such hard and lapideous con- 
cretions; for the like we daily observe in the heads of fishes, as 
Codds, Carpes, and Pearches, the like also in Snailes, a soft and 
exosseous animal, whereof in the naked and greater sort [Slugs ?], 
as though she would requite the defect of a shell on their back, 
nature, neere the head [tail?], hath placed a flat white stone, or 
rather testaceous concretion. 
a a te a is ae 
“Nor is it onely of rarity, but it may be doubted whether it be of 
existency, or really any such stone in the head of a Toad at all. 
For although lapidaries and questuary enquirers affirm it, yet the 
Writers of Mineralls and naturall speculators, are of another beliefe, 
conceiving the stones which beare this name to be a Minerall 
concretion, nor to be found in animalls, but in fields; and therefore 
Buetius de Boos referres it to Asteria, or some kind of Lapis 
stellaris, and plainely concludeth, ‘they are found in fields, not- 
withstanding that ancient writers pertinaciously affirm that they are 
produced in the head of the toad.’ 
“ Lastly, if any such thing there be, yet must it not for ought 
I see, be taken as we receive it, for a loose and moveable stone, but 
rather a concretion of the crany it selfe; for (the Toad) being of an 
earthy temper, living in the earth, and as some say feeding thereon, 
such indurations may sometimes happen; and thus when Brassa- 
volus after a long search had discovered one, he affirmes it was 
rather the forehead bone petrified, then a stone within the crany ; 
and of this beleefe was Gesner. All which considered, we must 
with circumspection receive those stones, which commonly beare 
this name, much lesse beleeve the traditions, that in envy to 
