MONSTER TOAD. 
409 
who have heard their incessant croaking, will 
easily forget it through life. Of the former of 
these, we have seen three kinds, and, of the 
latter, two. They all vary in size, colour, and 
beauty of marking, but none seem to deserve 
special notice, save the " Monster Toad of 
Kaffraria," called by the Dutch the u Bonder - 
paade" This is a.large ugly-looking monster, 
about eleven inches or a foot in length, and 
eight inches broad. In colour it is a brownish 
green, yellow on the under parts of the feet, 
throat, legs, and belly. On the back it is spot- 
ted with black, and on the sides is striped with 
the same colour. Its eyes are large and red, 
and the Kaffir tradition says that it spits fire. 
All animals are afraid of it, and horses shy from 
it with an inherent and manifest terror, quite 
equal to that which they evince at the sight of 
a snake or adder. It inhabits marshy places, 
and makes a loud discordant croaking noise. 
A very curious account of sudden death, 
caused by this creature, was given in the Cape- 
town papers some few years ago, and which 
appeared to confirm the popular belief in its 
poisonous powers. 
It was the case of three brothers, Dutch boers, 
who lived together in a large farm house, in the 
western district of Clanwilliam, in the old Cape 
Colony. One day, whilst two of them were out, 
