LONGEVITY OF TOADS. 2$ 



small molluscs. In fine evenings at certain seasons they may be 

 heard uttering a plaintive monotonous sound. They collect in ponds, 

 or even puddles, to breed and deposit their eggs. When hatched, 

 the young Toads go through the same metamorphosis as do the 

 tadpoles of the Frogs. 



Though very inactive, they are nevertheless very enduring ; they 

 respire little, are susceptible of hybernation, and can remain for a 

 considerable time shut up in confinement so restricted as to produce 

 astonishment. 



It is proper, however, to caution the reader against believing all 

 that has been written about the longevity of Toads. Neither must 

 implicit faith be given to the discovery of the living animal (Fig. 7) in 

 the centre of stones. " That toads, frogs, and newts, occasionally 

 issue from stones broken in a quarry or are discovered in sinking 

 wells, and even taken from coal-strata at the bottom of a mine," is 

 true enough ; but, as Dr. Buckland observes, " the evidence is never 

 perfect to show that these Amphibians were entirely enclosed in a 

 solid rock ; no examination is made until the creature is discovered 

 by the breaking of the mass in which it was contained, and then it is 

 too late to ascertain whether there was any hole or crevice by which 

 it might have entered." These considerations led Dr. Buckland to 

 undertake certain experiments to test the fact. He caused blocks of 

 coarse oolitic limestone and sandstone to be prepared with cells of 

 various sizes, in which he enclosed toads of different ages. The 

 small toads enclosed in the sandstone were found to die at the end 

 of thirteen months ; the same fate befell the larger ones during the 

 second year ; they were watched through the glass covers of their cells, 

 and were never seen in a state of torpor, but at each successive examina 

 tion they had become more meagre, until at last they were found dead. 

 This was probably too severe a test for the poor creatures, the glass 

 cover implying a degree of hardness and dryness not natural to half 

 amphibious toads. This animal, the Common Toad (Bufo vulgaris), 

 is badly provided with means of progression, is timid and solitary in 

 habits, and shuns the sight of man, as if it comprehended the re- 

 pugnance with which it is regarded. It is, nevertheless, susceptible 

 of education, and has been tamed. Pennant the zoologist relates 

 some curious details respecting a poor toad which took refuge under 

 the staircase of a house. It was accustomed to come every evening 

 into a dining-room near the place of its retreat. When it saw the 

 light it allowed itself to be placed on a table, where the host fur- 

 nished it with worms, wood-lice, and various insects. As no attempt 

 was made to injure it, there were no signs of irritation when it was 



