THE BATRACHIA. 35 1 



insects and slugs for which they have a voracious appetite. 

 Their tongues, which like those of the chameleon and other 

 insect eaters, are furnished with a sticky mucus to which in- 

 sects adhere, — when in repose, turn inwards towards the throat 

 and the act of catching flies and other insects is simply that of 

 flapping the tongue out and in again, an act performed with 

 such rapidity as to almost escape observation. 

 The Common The toad is found in all temperate and torrid 

 Toad. climes. It hides in damp secluded places during 

 the day, emerging in search of food at night, or after the fall 

 of rain. Though voracious in its appetite, it can accommo- 

 date itself to circumstances and can subsist with little food if its 

 abode be damp. Failing food and damp, it has yet another 

 resource, namely that of sleep, or torpor, in which condition 

 it can lay by and wait for better times. Under such circum- 

 stances the toad naturally lives a long life and survives condi- 

 tions usually fatal. The voracity of the toad is attested by the 

 following incident furnished by Captain Brown. ' ' A gentle- 

 man who resides at Keswick, Cumberland, one evening in the 

 latter end of July, observed a rustling among the strawberries 

 in his garden, and on examining what it was, found that a 

 toad had just seized a field-mouse, which had got on the 

 toad's back, scratching and biting to get released, but in vain. 

 The toad kept his hold, and as the strength of the mouse failed, 

 he gradually drew the unfortunate little animal into his mouth, 

 and gorged him." 



Tame Toads. The toad may be easily tamed. Mr. Wood 

 tells of one which lived with a family for years and was in the 

 habit of supping on a piece of sugar. The story of the Duke 

 of Wellington and the tame toad deserves telling in this con- 

 nection. The Duke of Wellington was one day taking his 

 usual country walk, when he heard a cry of distress. He 

 walked to the spot, and found a chubby, rosyfaced boy lying 

 on the ground, and bending his head over a tame toad, and 

 crying as if his little heart would break. Enquiry elicited the 



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