324 
ACE! EVENT Poe 
a 
n 
nute, as if preparing for the 
ftroke, which was an inftanta- 
neous throwing its tongue at a 
great diftance upon the infect, 
which ftuck to the tip by a gluti- 
nous matter : the motion is quick- 
er than the eye can follow*. 
<< J 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 mutt be a half 
circle; by which, when its tongue 
recovered its fituation, the infect 
at the tip would be brought to 
the place of deglutition. I was 
confirmed in this by never ob- 
ferving any internal motion in its 
mouth, excepting one fwallow the 
inftant its tongue returned. Pof- 
fibly I might be miftaken, for I 
never diffected one, but contented 
myfelf with opening its mouth, 
and flightly infpecting it. 
*¢ You may imagine that a toad 
generally detefted (altho’ one of 
the moft inoffenfive of all ani- 
mals) fo much taken notice of 
and befriended; excited the cu- 
® This rapid capture of its prey might give occafion to the) 
report of its fafcinating powers. Lianeus {ays, Infeda ix fauces 
faftine revecat. 
“* riofity 
a as 
