248 On Fossils used as Ornaments. 
mankinde they are cast out or swallowed down by the Toad, which 
cannot consist with Amatomnyed.) |e epee) 
Extraordinary virtues were attributed to the “ toad-stone ” in the 
16th century; it was held to be a protection against poison, and 
was often set in rings. That this belief was rife in Shakespeare’s 
time, is shown by the lines in “ As you like it,” Book II. 1. 
‘¢ Sweet are the uses of adversity 
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.”’ 
The following is a transcript! of Mr. Cunnington’s Note “Ona 
Crapaudine Locket, found in St. John’s churchyard, Devizes, by 
William Cunnington, F.G.S.” - “In the year 1838, the Rev. H. J. 
Phipps, the Rector of Devizes, made some improvements in the 
churchyard. The footpath, which before passed in a very irregular 
and unseemly manner among. the graves, was diverted and carried 
under the wall to the East. --In making these alterations much of 
the surface was necessarily disturbed and amongst the earth taken 
from an old grave was found. the small locket or padlock, which is 
represented in the subjoined: woodeut. 
Fig. 5. 
Fies. 1 & 2.—‘‘Crapaudine Locket”’ (fig. 1, front view, fig. 2, profile), formed of 
two circular palatal fish-teeth of Lepidotus maximus, Wagner, 
= Spherodus gigas, Ag. 
Fic. 3.—Upper and convex outer surface. Fic. 4.—Under and concave inner 
surface 
Fic. 5.—Profile or side view, of a detached tooth of Lepidotus. 
“Tt is formed of two of the round smooth (enamelled) teeth of 
Spherodus gigas (Crapaudines) set together in an ornamental band 
of metal, to which the loop of the locket is attached. The metallic 
parts have been well gilded and are in good preservation. The 
key-hole is cut in the centre of one of the teeth, and-some remains 
of the wards of the lock may still be seen inside. Mr. A. W. Franks, 
C.B., F.S.A., F.R.S., of the British Museum, has examined the locket, 
and, judging from the ornamentation, he thinks that it is not of later 
date than the 16th century. He has never seen a similar object.” 
1 T am indebted to the kindness of Mr. W. Cunnington, F.G.S., for the illustration, 
and to his nephew, Mr. B. Howard Cunnington, of Devizes, for a copy of this paper, 
extracted from the ‘‘ Wilts Archeological Magazine,’’ 1870, No. xxxv., p. 249. 
