3266 Reptiles — Insects. 



ment, they made no attempt to explain. They accordingly contented themselves with 

 proposing that the present should be considered another authentic case to be added to 

 the few hundreds already existing, of toads being found alive embedded in stone, leav- 

 ing it to some future savant to explain what now appears the wonderful miracle by 

 which nature keeps them alive so long in such places. But the distinguished M. Ma- 

 gendie suggested that it was just possible that an attempt was being made to hoax the 

 Academy, by making it believe that the toad had been found in the hole, whereas it 

 might only have been put in by the mischievous workmen after the stone was broken. 

 Terrified at the idea of becoming the laughing-stock of the public, the Academy de- 

 clined to take any formal resolution about the toad, but thanked the committee for its 

 very interesting communication ; and so the subject dropped. One word, however : — 

 if the toad had really not been embedded in the flint, how comes it that after being 

 taken out, he always fixed himself exactly in the cavity, that the cavity fitted him to 

 a hair's breadth, and that the hardness of the stone had made an impression on his 

 jaw ? — Times Newspaper. 



Toads buried alive. — In the last number of the * Zoologist ' the Editor requires 

 information respecting " toads in stones." I cannot say that I ever saw the reptile in 

 such a situation, but will relate two anecdotes, one of which came under my own ob- 

 servation, the other resulted from it. In the year 1821 I was residing in the country, 

 and in my court-yard was a set of stone steps for mounting on horseback. These be- 

 ing useless to me, I desired they might be removed. On taking them down, the low- 

 est step, a coarse red conglomerate, measuring about 3 feet in length, 10 inches in 

 depth, and about 14 in width, was raised by a heavy bar. It had been well bedded 

 in mortar, in which, while soft, a toad had been evidently placed, as there was no ap- 

 pearance of any way by which it could have found ingress or egress, the mould or cast 

 being as perfect as if taken in plaster. On the removal of the stone the toad remained 

 torpid for a few minutes, when it seemed to revive and then crept out. From the own- 

 ers of the property I ascertained that the steps had been placed there forty-five years 

 before, and, to the best of their knowledge, had never been moved. The second ac- 

 count is from a clergyman, and originated from my informing him of the above. He 

 caused a pit to be dug in his garden, six feet deep ; at the bottom was laid a slate, on 

 which a full-sized toad was placed, with an inverted flower-pot over it. The hole and 

 edges were well luted with clay ; the pit was then filled in, and on that day twelve 

 months re-opened, when the toad was found alive, and as well as when inclosed in its 

 living tomb. If, therefore, it could exist in such a state for twelve months, it is not 

 impossible that it might do so for a much longer period. — F. W. L. Ross ; Broad- 

 way House, Topsham, September 16, 1851. 



Note on Mecinus collaris. — In my notice of the capture of Mecinus collaris (Zool. 

 3186), I unintentionally omitted to state that my friend Mr. Grant took a few speci- 

 mens of this insect by sweeping, in April last; and in justice to him I think he ought 

 to have the credit of finding the head -quarters for the insect. — Samuel Stevens; 24, 

 liloo)nsbury Street, August 7, 1851. 



