ON THE TOAD. 503 



" many yards long, not in a large quantity of 

 "jelly, like frogs' spawn. N". B. After having 

 " held a female some time in my hand, I have, 

 " to try if there was any smell, put my finger 

 " a foot under Mater to a male, who has im- 

 " mediately seized it, and stuck to it as firmly 

 " as if it was a female. Quere, Would they 

 " seize a finger or rag that had touched a can- 

 " cerous ulcer ? 



" Sixthly, Insects being their food, I never 

 " saw any toad shew any liking or dislike to 

 " any plant. * 



" his paw that the male performs the function of a midwife, and 

 " acquits himself in it with a dexterity that one would not ex- 

 " pect from so lumpish an animal. 



" The presence of the observer did not a little discompose the 

 ,e male; for some time he stopped short, and threw on the curi- 

 te ous impertinent a fixed look that marked his disquietness and 

 " fear ; but he soon returned to his work with more precipita- 

 " tion 4»han before, and a moment after he appeared undeter- 

 fe mined whether he should continue it or not. The female 

 " likewise discovered her uneasiness at the sight of the stranger, 

 " by motions that interrupted sometimes the male in his opera- 

 " tion. At length, whether the silence and steady posture of 

 " the spectator had dissipated their fear, or that the case was 

 " urgent, the male resumed his work with the same vigour, and 

 <( successfully performed his function." 



* This question arose from an assertion of Linnaeus, that the 

 toad delighted in filthy herbs. Delectatur Cotula, Actcea, Sta- 

 chydefcetida. The unhappy deformity of the animal seems to 

 be the only ground of this as well as another misrepresentation, 

 of its conveying a poison with its pimples, its touch, and even its 

 breath. Verrucce lactescentes venenata infusce tactu, anhelitu. 



