392 Reptiles. 



" I had rather be a toad, and live upon the vapour of a dungeon," 



Act iii. Scene ii. 



we may perhaps be justified in supposing that the food of the crea- 

 ture was then as little known as its real powers and habits. In a line 

 in ' Romeo and Juliet' there is embalmed a curious traditionary error, 



" Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes," 



Act iii. Scene v. 



an idea which probably took its origin from a notion that the bright 

 full eye of the toad was more suitable for the bird that at " heaven's 

 gate sings " than for a reptile so " loathed." A passage in ' As you 

 like it ' demands more deliberate attention : it is one of those which, 

 like sterling coin, has passed into general circulation, and scarcely 

 suggests to our mind the recollection of the rich mint from which it 

 came : and, as the gold has its alloy, so here we have the moral truth 

 and the legendary error. 



" Sweet are the uses of adversity, 



Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 

 Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." 



Act ii. Scene i. 



Much commentary has been expended on these lines, but from 

 Douce's Illustrations we learn — what is probably the true solution of 

 the enigma — that the common people of England "made superstitious 

 uses of a real jewel that always could be found in a toad's head ; " 

 and that, according to popular belief, " the toad before her death 

 sucks up, if not prevented by sudden surprisal, the precious stone 

 (as yet but a jelly) in her head, grudging mankind the good thereof." 

 —p. 294. 



In Ireland the common toad is unknown ; but our tutelary saint 

 has left us the smaller species (Bufo calamita), the natterjack. It 

 has been found in three or four localities in the county Kerry, and at 

 Ross bay, county Cork. 



The remainder of the British Amphibia belong to the order Uro- 

 delcty and family Salamandridce. They consist of four species of 

 newts, of which two only have as yet been noticed in Ireland. 



The newt, like others of the tribe, is enumerated among the ingre- 

 dients of the charmed chaldron, so frequently mentioned ; and the 

 term " gilded newt," which has been also quoted, indicates the bright 

 orange colour visible on the body of the male eft during the spring. 

 Atnong the best known passages in which newts are introduced, is 

 that where Edgar, in his assumed character of poor Tom, speaks 



