144 



COMMON TOAD. 



some other species mistaken for the common Toad ; 

 it being certain that some of this genus exsude 

 from their skin a highly acrimonious fluid. 



The Toad is, however, looked upon with great 

 aversion by the major part of mankind, and it 

 must be confessed, that its appearance is not cap- 

 tivating : yet the eyes are remarkably beautiful ; 

 being surrounded by a reddish gold-coloured iris, 

 the pupil, when in a state of contraction, appear- 

 ing transverse. 



It might seem unpardonable to conclude the 

 history of this animal without mentioning the 

 very extraordinary circumstance of its having 

 been occasionally discovered enclosed, or imbed- 

 ded, without any visible outlet, or even any pas- 

 sage for air, in the substance of wood, and even 

 in that of stone or blocks of marble. For my own 

 part, I have no hesitation in avowing a very high 

 degree of scepticism as to these supposed facts, 

 and in expressing my suspicions that proper atten- 

 tion, in such cases, was not paid to the real situa- 

 tion of the animal. That a Toad may have occasion- 

 ally latibulized in some part of a tree, and have been 

 in some degree overtaken or enclosed by the growth 

 of the wood, so as to be obliged to continue in that 

 situation, without being able to effect its escape, 

 may perhaps be granted : but it would probably con- 

 tinue to live so long only as there remained a pas- 

 sage for air^ and for the ingress of insects, &c. 

 on which it might occasionally feed ; but that it 

 should be completely blocked up in any kind of 

 stone or marble, without either food or air, appears 



