ON THE TOAD. 497 



ing it, brought it to be so tame that it al- 

 ways came to the candle, and looked up as 

 if expecting to be taken up and brought upon 

 the table, where I always fed it with insects 

 of all sorts : it was fondest of flesh maggots, 

 which I kept in bran ; it would follow them, 

 and when within a proper distance, would fix 

 its eye, and remain motionless for near a 

 quarter of a minute, as if preparing for the 

 stroke, which was an instantaneous throwing 

 its tongue at a great distance upon the in- 

 sect, which stuck to the tip by a glutinous 

 matter: the motion is quicker than the eye 

 can follow. * 



" I always imagined that the root of its 

 tongue was placed in the fore part of its 

 under jaw, and the tip towards its throat, by 

 which the motion must be a half circle ; by 

 which, when its tongue recovered its situa- 

 tion, the insect at the tip would be brought 

 to the place of deglutition. I was confirmed 

 in this, by never observing any internal mo- 

 tion in its mouth, excepting one swallow the 

 instant its tongue returned. Possibly I might 



* This rapid capture of its prey might give occasion to the 

 report of its fascinating powers. Linnceus says, Insecta in fauces 

 jascino revocat. 



VOL. nr. g K 



