Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/52

BRITISH AMPHIBIANS That the Toad exudes a sticky secretion from its skin, for the purpose of protecting itself from enemies, is quite true, but it even ceases to do this harmless act when it realises that no danger is likely to come to it. The tongue, too, is coated with a viscous substance to enable the amphibian to more easily capture its prey, and this has given rise to many misconceptions. Gilbert White of Selborne was sorely puzzled as to the supposed venomous character of the Toad, but many extraordinary things were still believed in his day which have since been entirely exploded. Yet, it should be recognised that some good was thought of the Toad in the days of the stage coach and wind-mills, for we are told that, in White's time, the foul and apparently incurable disease of cancer was actually cured by the application of a Toad to the affected person. A curious superstition, or belief, still existent in country districts has reference to the sudden appearance of showers of Frogs, but the phenomenon is due to the fact already referred to of armies of young Frogs migrating from the pond in which they were born, and as these marches often take place in rainy or showery weather, the illusion is all the more complete.

Newts, inoffensive and sluggish creatures at all times, are not immune from these old-time fallacies, and the whole subject is brim full of interest as revealing how an animal's blameless character can be distorted. It is the way of the world to-day in human life and endeavour. A man, or woman's, good deeds are woefully, or 36