162 
TOADS FOUND IN ROCKS. 
stomachs into water. On examining the mass of insects that are found in the stomach, and 
which are floated apart in the water, there are almost always some specimens of valuable 
insects, generally beetles, which from their nocturnal habits, small dimensions, and sober col- 
oring, cannot readily be detected by human eyes. 
The Toad will also eat worms, and in swallowing them it finds its fore-feet of great use. 
’ Tile worm is seized by the middle, and writhes itself frantically into such contortions that the 
Toad would not be able to swallow it but by the aid of the fore-feet, which it uses as if they 
were hands. Sitting quietly down with the worm in its month, the Toad pushes it further 
between the jaws, first with one paw and then with another, until it succeeds by alternate 
gulps and pushes to force the worm fairly down its throat. 
These paws are also useful in aiding it to rid itself of its cuticle, which is shed at intervals, 
as is the case with many reptiles and Batrachians. The process is so singular, and so admi- 
rably described by Mr. Bell, that it must be given in his own words 
‘ c I one day observed a large Toad, the skin of which was particularly dry and dull in its 
color, with a light streak down the mesial line of its back; and on examining further, I discov- 
ered a corresponding line along its belly. This proved to arise from an entire slit in the old 
cuticle, which exposed to view the new and brighter skin underneath. Finding, therefore, 
what was going to happen, I watched the whole detail of this curious process. 
U I soon observed that the two halves of the skin, thus completely divided, continued to 
recede farther and farther from the centre, and became 'folded and rugose; and after a short 
space, by means of the continued twitching of the animal’s body, it was brought down in folds 
on the sides. * The hinder leg, first on one side and then on the other, was brought forward 
under the arm, which was pressed down upon it, and on the hinder limb being withdawn, its 
cuticle was left inserted under the arm, and that of the anterior extremity was now loosened, 
and at length drawn off by the assistance of the mouth. The whole cuticle was thus detached, 
and was now pushed by the two hands into the mouth in a little ball, and swallowed at a single 
gulp. I afterwards had repeated opportunities of watching this curious process, which did 
not materially vary in any instance.” 
Though apparently unfit for food, the Toad is eaten by some nations, and certainly is not 
more unprepossessing than the iguana. The Chinese, however, are in the habit of eating a 
species of Toad for the purpose of increasing their bodily powers, thinking that the flesh of 
this creature has the property of strengthening bone and sinew. 
This animal is extremely tenacious of life, and is said to possess the power of retaining 
life for an unlimited period if shut up in a completely air-tight cell. Many accounts are in 
existence of Toads which have been discovered in blocks of stone when split open, and the 
inference has been drawn that they were inclosed in the stone while it was still in the liquid 
state, some hundreds of thousands of years ago, according to the particular geological period, 
and had remained without food or air until the stroke of the pick brought them once more to 
the light of day. 
Such an account appears at once to be so opposed to all probability as to challenge a 
doubt ; but if there had been sufficient testimony, even to one such fact, an unprejudiced 
thinker would be justified in placing it among the wonderful but veritable occurrences that 
occasionally startle mankind. But there really seems to be no account which is sufficiently 
accurate to permit of such a conclusion. In more than one case, the whole story has proved 
to be nothing more than an imposition; and in others, there is hardly sufficient evidence to 
show that some crevice did not exist, which would supply the inclosed animal with sufficient 
air for its narrow wants, and permit many minute insects to crawl into the cavity which held 
the imprisoned Toad. 
There is no doubt that in many cases a little Toad has crept into a rocky crevice after 
prey or in search of a hiding-place, and by reason of its rapid increase in size been unable to 
make its exit. As, moreover, the creature is very long lived, it would, by frequent move- 
ments, give a polish to the walls of its cell in a few years ; a circumstance that has been 
employed as a proof of the antiquity of the Toad and its residence. Similar instances are 
known where the animal has been found inclosed in timber. Here, however, is less difficulty 
