502 APPENDIX. I. 



" often disengaged her, and put her to a soli- 

 " tary male, to see with what eagerness he would 

 " seize her. They impregnate the spawn as it is 

 " drawn * out in long strings, like a necklace, 



* I was incredulous as to the obstetrical offices of the male 

 toad, but since the end is so well accounted for, and the fact 

 established by such good authority, belief must take place. 



Mr. Demours, in the Memoirs of the French Academy, as 

 translated by Dr. Templeman, vol. I. 371. has been very parti- 

 cular in respect to the male toad, as acting the part of an Accou- 

 cheur ; his account is curious, and claims a place here : 



" In the evening of one of the long days in summer, Mr. 

 " Demours being in the king's garden, perceived two toads 

 " coupled together at the edge of an hole, which was formed in 

 " part by a great stone at the top. 



" Curiosity drew him to see what was the occasion of the mo- 

 " tions he observed, when two facts equally surprized him ; the 

 "first was the extreme difficulty the female had in laying her 

 " eggs, insomuch that she did not seem capable of being deli- 

 " vered of them without some assistance. The second was, that 

 " the male was mounted on the back of the female, and exerted 

 " all his strength with his hinder feet in pulling out the eggs, 

 " whilst his fore-feet embraced her breast. 



" In order to apprehend the manner of his working in the de- 

 " livery of the female, the reader must observe, that the paws 

 " of these animals, as well those of the fore- feet as of the hin- 

 " der, are divided into several toes, which can perform the 

 '* office of fingers. 



" It must be remarked likewise, that the eggs of this species 

 " of toads are included each in a membranous coat that is very 

 '* firm, in which is contained the embryo ; and that these eggs, 

 " which are oblong and about two lines in length, being fasten- 

 " ed one to another by a short but very strong cord, form a kind 

 " of chaplet, the beads of which are distant from each other 

 " about the half of their length. It is by drawing this cord with 



