152 



MEPHITIC TOADe 



versary had included toads and vipers in the 

 drum, which, being put into a rage by the beat- 

 ing and trembling of the instrument, breathed out 

 a poisonous vapour, which manifestly exerted its 

 virulence upon the seat of life itself ; namely, the 

 brain!!!" 



VAR. ? 



Natter-Jack. Brit Zool. 3. p. IS. 



To the above animal seems greatly alHed the 

 species known in some parts of England by the 

 name of the Natter-Jack, and which is thus de- 

 scribed in the British Zoology : 



* * This species frequents dry and sandy places : 

 it is found in Putneij Common, and also near 

 Reevesby Ahhy, Lincolnshire, where it is called the 

 Natter-Jack, It never leaps, neither does it crawl 

 with the slow pace of a toad, but its motion is 

 liker to running. Several are found commonly 

 together, and, like others of the genus, they appear 

 in the evening. 



**The upper part of the body is of a dirty 

 yellow, clouded with brown, and covered with 

 porous pimples, of unequal sizes : on the back is 

 a yellow line. The under side of the body is of a 

 paler hue, marked with black spots, which are ra- 

 ther rough. On the fore feet are four divided 

 toes ; on the hind feet five, a little webbed. The 

 length of the body is two inches and a quarter ; 

 the breadth one and a quarter : the length of the 



