THE BATRACHIA. 351

insects and slugs for which they have a voracious appetite.
Their tongues, which like those of the chameleon and other
insect eaters, are furnished with a sticky mucus to which in-
sects adhere, —when in repose, turn inwards towards the throat
and the act of catching flies and other insects is simply that of
flapping the tongue out and in again, an act performed with
such rapidity as to almost escape observation.
TheCommon The toad is found in all temperate and torrid
Toad. climes. It hides in damp secluded places during
the day, emerging in search of food at night, or after the fall
of rain. Though voracious in its appetite, it can accommo-
date itself to circumstances and can subsist with little food if its
abode be damp. Failing food and damp, it has yet another
resource, namely that of sleep, or torpor, in which condition
it can lay by and wait for better times. Under such circum-
stances the toad naturally lives a long life and survives condi-
tions usually fatal. The voracity of the toad is attested by the
following incident furnished by Captain Brown. ‘‘ A gentle-
man who resides at Keswick, Cumberland, one evening in the
latter end of July, observed a rustling among the strawberries
in his garden, and on examining what it was, found that a
toad had just seized a field-mouse, which had got on the
toad’s back, scratching and biting to get released, but in vain.
The toad kept his hold, and as the strength of the mouse failed,
he gradually drew the unfortunate little animal into his mouth,
and gorged him.’’

Tame Toads. The toad may be easily tamed. Mr. Wood
tells of one which lived with a family for years and was in the
habit of supping on a piece of sugar. The story of the Duke
of Wellington and the tame toad deserves telling in this con-
nection. The Duke of Wellington was one day taking his
usual country walk, when he heard a cry of distress. He
walked to the spot, and found a chubby, rosyfaced boy lying
on the ground, and bending his head over a tame toad, and
crying as if his little heart would break. Enquiry elicited the