16 
nor ean it be expeted that the naturalits 
of Ireland will ever attempt to determine 
the point by the importation of fuch 
animals ; it would be folly to rifk the 
introdu€tion of a dangerous race of crea- 
fures, merely to refute an. affertion fo 
highly improbable. me: 
Still more contrary to all probability 
are the accounts of Joads being found 
¢ompletely inclofed in maflts of ftone. 
That an animal to whom motion, refpira- 
tion, and digeftion are natural, fhould be 
capable of living in a fituation which 
effetually precludes the exercife of thefe 
fundtions, not merely for a few hours, 
but for years, hundreds of years, - or 
even thoufands of years (for to fo diftant 
2 period muft we refer the formation of 
many kinds of ftone) is a circumftance 
which mutt furely ftartle credulity itfelf, 
and caufe-us to hefitate in admitting 
its poffibility on any thing fhort of the 
mof full and competent teftimony, I am 
aware that accounts of this kind are 
numerous, and that moft of the -perfons 
who have given them appear to have had 
no doubts of what they related. The 
late learned and accute Mr. Wakefield 
afferted in your Magazine, that « the fact 
is unqueftionable :”” but with the higheft 
re{pect for fuch diftinguifhed authority, I 
am ftill.inelined tothink ctherwife. That 
Jife fhould continue in any animal with- 
out the acceffion. of nourifhment, during 
fuch an immenfe period of time; 1s in 
the higheft degree improbable. Lizards, 
fnakes, and fome infects will live a Very 
confiderable time without food; in the 
courfe of a few weeks, however, the want 
of nouriihment is generally apparent, by 
the eceature becomirg thinner and lets 
vigorous; I have feen Toads experience 
the fame effect from a few days canfine- 
ment without food. Mr. H. Baker 
(Philofophical Tranfagtions 1740) has 
given an account of a common Houle- 
Beetle which he kept three years without 
feod, and which the whole time appeared 
flrong and vigorous (except that in cold 
weather it feemed more torpid) but 
though it appeared to be kept alive merely 
,) by air, Mr. Baker had no doubt that in 
“its natural fate iteats more folid feod. 
That the Toad when at liberty feeds on 
fmall infeé&ts, I have had pofitive evi- 
dence, as well as that freth air is neceffary 
for its refpiration; and furely no one 
will fuppofe that it can fo materially differ 
-frorn all cther animals as not to require 
food or air; confequently it muft be im- 
poflible for it to continue to exercife the 
ulual funétiensof an animal in a fituation 
Vulear Errors in Natural Fiftory. 
Prebe@, 
where it is effeQually deprived of thefe 
effentials. The only fuppefition then, 
which can give any degree of probability 
to fuch accounts is, that the animal may 
almoft immediately after its mclofure fall 
into fuch a complete ftate of torpidity 
as to render air or nourifhment unneceflary 
during an immenfe period of time. It 
is contrary to all our knowledge of ani- 
mal nature to admit this fuppolition ; for 
a total tufpenfion of refpirition and cir- 
‘culation implies, or at leaft muft foon pro. 
duce, an extinétion of the vital principle; 
and if thefe powers were not completely 
ftopt, there muf be a confuimption of ‘air 
nd fubftance from which in fo great a 
length of time death would as certainly 
enfue: nor is it probable that the crea- 
ture fhould be fuddenly awaked out of 
fuch a profound torpidity, and, on the 
ftone being cleft, immediately refume 
faculties which had lhin dormant hun- 
dreds of .years ; yet moft of the accounts 
relate that on the ftone being broken, the 
animal crawled about and appeared to 
have fuffered little inconvenience frem its 
impriionment, though if you take a Bat 
or other aniipal which ufually paffes the 
winier in a torpid fate, from its retreat, 
it will for a confiderable time*exhibit lit 
tle figns of life, and will in general re- 
quire many ‘days and the application of 
warmth to enable it to refume its natural 
faculties. On the whole, there is great 
reafon to believe this wonderful ftory has 
arifen entirely from imattention. | The 
Toad hides itielf during the winter in 
holes and crevices, and the breaking of a 
ftone may have often difturbed its retreat 
and given rife to a hafty conelufion that 
it came out of the ftone: the accounts 
have geherallv been taken from labourers 
and ignorant perfons, who prefer relating 
a wonder to examiving into its reality. 
Some other opinions, which probably, 
on examination, will be found erroneous, 
appear more within the reach of attentive 
obfervation, and confequently may be 
more eafily"determined: excufe me if I 
mention as an inftance of ‘this kid the 
relation of the Porcupine fheoting or 
‘darting its quills at its affailants. ‘Phat 
the creature poffefles an excellent defence 
by erecting its quills, muft be aimitted ; 
but the pretended power would deftroy. 
this advantage, as by irritation it might 
be provoked to difcharge all its darts, 
and thus would become a moft defencelefs 
creature indeed, in which ftate it mutt 
remain expoted to all attacks, for it can- 
not be fuppofed that thefe ftrong quills: 
would be very {peedily renovated. Upon 
: examining 
