FROGS. 331 



most absurd appearance as they stick against the pane of glass 

 forming the front of their cage. 



The Common Toad has had its full share of marvellous 

 tales. Its poisonous properties are celebrated in many an ancient 

 chronicle, as are also the virtues 

 of the jewel contained in its head. 

 Its skin certainly does secrete an 

 acrid humor, which at all events 

 defends it from dogs, who can never 

 be induced to bite a toad a second 

 time ; but, of course, such absurd 

 notions as the romantic story of the _. _ „ ^ 



•' The Common Toad. 



death of a young lady and her 



lover, who each ate a leaf of a shrub at the root of which a tcad 



had made its habitation, need no refutation. 



The Newts are separated from the lizards on account of 

 their changes while young. Like the frogs, they are first tadpoles, 

 and do not assume their perfect shape until six weeks after their 

 exclusion from the eggs. The Common Newt is a beautiful inha- 

 bitant :[ the ponds, ditches, and still waters. It feeds principally 

 on tadpoles and worms, which it eats with a peculiar rapid snap. 



The male Newt is distinguished by a beautiful crimson- 

 tipped wavy crest of loose skin, that extends along the whole 

 course of the back and tail, and which, together with the rich 

 orange-colored belly, makes it a most beautiful creature. The 

 female has a singular habit of laying her eggs upon long leaves 

 of water-plants, and actually tying them in the leaf by a regular 

 knot. 



The Proteus is an extraordinary animal, which has been 

 found in dark subterranean lakes, many hundred feet below the 

 surface of the earth, where no ray of light can possibly enter 

 The eyes of this singular creature are mere points covered with 

 skin, and useless for vision ; indeed, when in captivity, it always 

 chooses the darkest parts of the vessel in which it is confined. 



The Proteus breathes in two ways — by lungs and by gills, 

 the latter organs appearing in the form of two tufts, one on each 



