328 
NATURAL HISTORY 
tion of the variegations, that it is not easy to mistake 
the species for any other. 
This elegant animal is a native of South America, 
where it frequents woody and watery places, and, if ere- 
dit may be given to the reports of some authors, is of a 
disposition as gentle as its appearance is beautiful. It 
has even gained the title of monitor, from its pretended 
attachment to the human race, and it has been said that 
it warns mankind of the approach of the alligator by a 
loud and shrill whistle. 
Toad. This animal, which is easily recognized by 
its livid appearance and sluggish and disgusting move- 
ments, is, in figure, nature, and appetites, like the frog* 
In Europe it is of a considerable size, the smallest indi- 
viduals measuring from four to six inches in length. Its 
eyes are remarkably beautiful, having a brilliant reddish 
gold-coloured iris surrounding the dark pupil, and form- 
ing a striking contrast with the remainder of its body. 
These animals are so extremely numerous in Cartha- 
gena and Porto Bello in America, that in rainy weather, 
not only all the marshy grounds, but the gardens, courts, 
and streets are almost covered with them; so much so, 
that many of the inhabitants believe that every drop of 
rain is coverted into a toad. If it happens to rain during 
the night, all the toads quit their hiding places, and then 
crawl about in such numbers, as almost literally to touch 
each other, and hide the surface of the earth; on such oc- 
casions it is impossible to stir out of doors without 
trampling them under foot at every step. 
When irritated, this creature emits from various parts 
of its skin a kind of frothy fluid that, in our climate, 
produces no further unpleasant symptoms than slight in- 
flammation, from its weakly acrimonious nature. It is 
persecuted and murdered wherever it appears, on the 
supposition merely that because it is ugly it must in 
consequence be venomous; and its reputation as a poi» 
senous animal obtained for it among the superstitious so 
many preternatural powers, that the reputed dealers in 
magic art are reported to have made use of it in their 
compounds. 
