84 NATURAL HISTORY 



doubted authority, that some ladies (ladies 

 you will say of peculiar taste) took a fancy 

 to a toad, which they nourished Summer 

 after Summer, for many years, till he grew 

 to a monstrous size, with the maggots which 

 turn to flesh flies. The reptile used to come 

 forth every evening from an hole under the 

 garden-steps ; and was taken up, after sup- 

 per, on the table to be fed. But at last a 

 tame raven, kenning him as he put forth 

 his head, gave him such a severe stroke 

 with his horny beak as put out one eye. 

 After this accident the creature languished 

 for some time and died. 



I need not remind a gentleman of your 

 extensive reading of the excellent account 

 there is from Mr. Derham, in i?«ys Wisdom 

 of God in the Creation (p. 365), concern- 

 ing the migration of frogs from their breed- 

 ing ponds. In this account he at once sub- 

 verts that foolish opinion of their dropping 

 from the clouds in rain ; showing that it is 

 from the grateful coolness and moisture of 

 those showers that they are tempted to set 

 out on their travels, which they defer till 



