NARRATIVE OF AN 



ture are webbed, and the toes longer than thofe before : 

 thus it can both Iwim and leap like a frog, in which it 

 differs from other toads. Its fize is often larger than a 

 common duck when plucked and pinioned; and its 

 croaking, which takes place generally in the night, in- 

 conceivably loud. But. what is moft remarkable in this 

 monfter, is the manner of its propagation : the young 

 ones being hatched till they become tadpoles, in a kind 

 of watery cells on the back of the mother, in which the 

 embrio's exiftence firft commences ; for on the back Ihe is 

 impregnated by the male, and thence ilTues this mofl: 

 extraordinary birth. 



Toads are not venomous, as is generally imagined, and 



— 



are even tameable : as, for inftance, Mr. Awcott fed one 

 for many years, and Colonel Fourgeoud kept his as a do- 

 meftic favourite during the whole time of our campaign 

 at Wana Creek ; indeed I myfelf have fince lodged a tame 

 frog. That the laft mentioned animals are eatable as far 

 as their thighs, 1 alfo know by experience; but their tafte 

 is extremely infipid. 



To return at once to my hammock and journal, — The 

 croaking of this pipa ; the hammering of another, which 

 produces a loud and conftant found of tuck^ tuck, tuck, from: 

 fun-fet to fun-rife ; the howling of the baboons; the hiff- 

 ing of the fnakes, tigers. Sic; to which add the growling 

 of Fourgeoud, and fometimes heavy rains into the bargain, 

 made the night very uncomfortable and gloomy indeed. 

 The riling fun, however, difpelled my refentment; and 

 having taken a found nap during the day, I was as well 

 4- after. 



