ON THE TOAD. 499 



authentic history, collected from Mr. A?*scott's 

 second favor : the answer points out my queries, 

 which it is needless to repeat. 



Tehott, Nov. 1, 1768. 



" In respect to the queries, I shall here give 

 " the most satisfactory answers I am capable 

 "of. 



" First, I cannot say how long my father 

 " had been acquainted with the toad before I 

 " knew it ; but when I first was acquainted 

 " with it, he used to mention it as the old toad 

 " I've known so many years ; I can answer for 

 " thirty-six years. 



" Secondly, No toads that I ever saw ap- 

 " peared in the winter season. The old toad 

 " made its appearance as soon as the warm 

 " weather came, and I always concluded it 

 " retired to some dry bank to repose till the 

 " spring. When we new-lay 'd the steps, I had 

 " two holes made in the third step on each, 

 " with a hollow of more than a yard long for 

 " it, in which I imagine it slept, as it came 

 " from thence at its first appearance. 



" Thirdly, It was seldom provoked : neither 

 " that toad (nor the multitudes I have seen tor- 

 " mented with great cruelty) ever shewed the 

 " lest desire of revenge, by spitting or emitting 



