RAN A. 
ing in a great degree domesticated. It 
was introduced to the table of the family, 
caught its food, consisting of insects, with 
great alertness and dexterity, grew to an 
uncommon size, would approach on being 
called by a particular name given to it, and 
regularly resided in a hole under the garden 
steps. The ideas formerly entertained of 
venomous qualities possessed by this animal, 
and on which the writers of almost every 
age have expatiated with firm belief, are 
now ascertained to be groundless, and the 
toad is regarded as an inoffensive animal, at 
least with respect to mankind, on whom its 
touch or bite never .produces any serious 
injury. The small lizard appears, after bit- 
ing the toad, to experience a temporary 
paralysis; even the mouths of dogs are 
stated to be somewhat irritated and in- 
flamed, by the exudation in the skin of 
this animal, in a state of alarm and irrita- 
tion. But the limpid fluid which it other- 
wise discharges during this state, is said 
to be free from even the slightest corrosive 
qualify. The exudation of some otlier 
species, however, is considered to be highly 
acrimonious. The statements which have 
repeatedly been published of toads found 
living in large blocks of wood and of stone, 
with no perceivable inlet for the air, and 
touched on all sides by the substance in 
which they were inclosed, appear to savour 
of the marvellous, and such representations 
are certainly not to be credited upon light 
authority. It is ascertained that a toad 
will live for many weeks, and even months, 
in a very small case, or under a pan, buried 
deeply in the earth. A gentleman inclosed 
fhree toads in three boxes before the mem- 
bers of the French Academy, and covered 
tliese boxes with thick mortar, leaving 
them’in the apartments of that Society, and 
after eighteen months the boxes were 
opened, and two of the animals were found 
still living. The eyes of the toad are re- 
markable for then- clearness and beauty, 
and excite sensations of a very different 
nature from tliat disgust, and even horror, 
which its general appearance almost uni- 
versally excites. See Amphibia, Plate II. 
fig. 2. 
R. cornuta, or the horned toad, is distiu- 
gnisbed by two sharp horns on its head, or 
rather by so peculiar a structure of the up- 
per lids of its eyes, as to produce the re- 
semblance of horns. Its mouth is of a 
most extravagant width, and in the whole 
list of amphibious annuals it is difficult per- 
haps to point out one equally calculated by 
deformity and ugliness to excite disgust. 
It is found only in South America. 
R. pipa, or the Surinam toad, is much 
larger than the common toad, being some- 
times seven inches in length. This animal 
is almost equally loathsome with the last, 
and is distinguished particularly by tliat 
curious deviation from the general course of 
nature, the exclusion of its young from its 
back, which contains a variety of cells for 
their residence, and a certain degree of 
maturation. It appears, however, that the 
ova are first deposited on the margin of 
some stagnant water, and afterwards, with 
great care, collected on the back of the 
female, and pressed into tlie cells, which 
are at particular seasons opened for their 
reception, and immediately on receiving 
them close over them. Here the young 
from the egg state to that of the tadpole, 
and from the latter to the form of the per- 
fect animal, and after the expiration of 
three months from their inclosiire, are dis- 
lodged in this matured state- In the space 
of five days one female has been seen to ex- 
clude in this manner seventy-five young 
ones. 
R. temporania, or common frog, is met 
VVith almost every where throughout Eu- 
rope, in low and wet situations, where it 
can procure that food on which it princi- 
pally subsists, worms and insects. During 
the heat of summer it generally resides itt 
water, and is able to swim witlr great dex- 
terity, its hind feet being furnished with 
strong webs admirably adapted for this ex- 
ercise, and in winter it remains imbedded 
in the muddy bottoms of pools, or lodges in 
deep recesses in their banks in a state of 
torpor, from which it is revived by the in- 
Alienee of spring. In March it deposits an 
accumulation of transparent ova, trorn 
which, witliin about a month are hatched 
tadpoles, every egg in tlie mean time ad- 
vancing daily in size, so that before the ex- 
piration of this period, these tadpoles may 
be clearly seen struggling in the viscous 
fluid whicli surrounds them. When first 
hatched they subsist on the remainder of 
this glutinous fluid. These animals appear 
to possess little more than a head and tail, 
and exhibit a singular contrast to the form 
of the animal which they are destined per- 
tectly to resemble. The internal structure 
of the old and young is little less different 
than their external appearance. These 
animals live to the age of twelve or fifteen 
years, and do not attain their maturity be- 
fore their fifth year. They will survive the 
