THE ANIMAL CREATION. 159 



I find one, I place it on my hand, to view it 

 more minutely. Its skin, too, so completely 

 adapted to the subterraneous places into which 

 it goes for shelter, is well worthy the attention 

 of the philosopher. As this little animal is 

 innocuous, I feel sorry when I see it trampled 

 underfoot by inconsiderate people, who have 

 learned from their grandmothers that it is full 

 of venom ; and I wish from my heart, that the 

 nineteenth century would produce something 

 more satisfactory than that which we possess 

 at present, relative to the true habits of toads 

 and snakes. We have a large species of wasp 

 in Demerara, called Maribunta, much more 

 severe with its sting than our English wasp ; 

 still, when I used to put down one of these to 

 a toad which I had in a little out-house, the 

 toad would come and swallow it alive, both 

 with avidity and impunity. 



Who can look without rapture on the beau- 

 tiful proportions of the horse ? His mane 

 hanging down a well-formed neck, seems a 

 counterbalance to his long flowing tail as he 

 moves along ; and we are all of us aware of 

 what amazing advantage this last-mentioned 

 appendage is to this noble beast, when a host 



