98 
NATURE NOTES 
[The cutting from the Ulverston Advertiser suggests a new question, almost as 
interesting as that of bufonic longevity, viz., the longevity of a newspaper para- 
graph. Is it possible that “ the Rev. \V. Buckland ” who “ finds [s/t] Irom 
experiments on toads that ” they require air and food is a certain Rev. William 
Buckland, D.D., Dean of Westminster from 1841; till his death in l8s6? — 
£d. W.W.] 
May I appeal to “ Rugby Selbornian” to seek the release of the unfortunate 
toad which is condemned to die of starvation hastened by suffocation, for the 
simple reason that he was wise enough to object to being burnt alive. It needs 
very little reflection to convince even the most unscientific person of the absolute 
impossibility of the toad being actually embedded in a lump of coal. As you. Sir, 
have so convincingly pointed out in your note, toads are a geologically modern 
species and therefore could not be found in a lump of coal. We all know that 
they constantly seek to pass the winter months in coal-cellars which are both 
damp and comparatively warm, and there is little doubt that very many are burnt 
in fires, when in the sleepy state common to hybernation. This poor toad has 
suffered dearly for his escape from death by fire. As regards the vitality of toads 
and frogs the following may be of interest. I had occasion to assist in opening 
a Roman Well, in a field in Wiltshire. When we had dug down about twenty 
feet the water came in ; and, as further operations were impossible until the follow- 
ing autumn, we placed logs over the mouth, replaced the soil and a crop of wheat 
w'as grown over it. Nearly a year after, we removed the soil and logs, in order 
to proceed with the work, and then found several pails-full of starved frogs, which, 
having jumped down, had remained imprisoned for close upon a year. They 
were almost skeletons and only just able to move their limbs. Both toads and 
frogs are hungry creatures, and only look “flat’’ as described after passing the 
winter in a semi-comatose condition. I have both kept and fed many and should 
like to have the pleasure of feeding up this unfortunate victim of ignorance. 
I sincerely hope that your correspondent will expose this ridiculous newspaper 
story, break the bottle and release and feed the starving victim if it is not 
already suffocated : if he does he will, I am sure, earn the gratitude of many a 
Selbornian. 
Tilford, Farnham, Surrey. Robert Morley. 
Tlie “Venomous” Toad. — I venture to make an enquiry of you, the 
answer to which will be of interest both to naturalists and Shakespearians. 
When in Jersey a short time ago, I saw in the garden of a farmer a young gull 
which looked very ill. The farmer said he was afraid it was going to die, as its 
brother had that morning. He said they had found a toad, and both the birds 
had eaten of it. Can you, or any of your readers tell me whether there is anything 
poisonous in toads? If the Jersey farmer was justified in imputing the bird’s 
sickness to this cause, it will remove almost the sole example of Shakespeare’s 
inaccuracy (as it has been considered) in description of natural history. To call 
the toad “ugly and venomous” has generally been thought a libel on a harmless 
and useful, if inelegant, animal. If its body has poison enough in it to kill gulls, 
Shakespeare’s epithet is correct, and his accuracy vindicated. 
18, Highjield Road, Edgbaslon. R. F. Martineau. 
A/>ril g, 1900. 
[There seems a want of certainty as to the fact of the gulls eating the toad. 
Most birds refuse to do so, probably from an unpleasant taste. A toad would 
presumably prove a very indigestible meal ; but there can be little doubt that 
Shakespeare used the word “venomous” in its usual sense of actively, not 
passively, poisonous. I remember being told in my youth that a grass snake 
would venom me. — E d. JV.dV.] 
Midges. — Are you aware that these little pests congregate in the winter in 
masses and hybernate? I was not, until I cut down a pollard surmounted by a 
huge mass of ivy. Besides starlings’ and sparrows’ nests in the branches, the 
hole contained a great lump of midges. I took them at first for dust or sawdust, 
but on closer inspection I found that the mass was — more or less — alive. They 
were shovelled into a wheelbarrow, which they nearly half filled. 
Nascott House, Watfotd, March 15. George Roofer. 
