Not the least wonderful part of the history of the toad is the
circumstance of its being frequently found in the bed of solid rocks,
and the internal cavities of trees.
_Anecdotes._--We find it mentioned in the "Edinburgh Philosophical
Journal," that "a specimen of a toad, which was taken alive from the
centre of a solid mass of stone, has been sent to the College Museum of
Edinburgh by Lord Duncan." It is mentioned, in the "Transactions of the
Academy of Sciences," at Paris, that a live toad was found in the
centre of an elm-tree, and another in an oak. Both trees were quite
sound, and in a healthy condition. To these facts we may add another:
It is related by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, who is a close observer of
nature, that, on his estate in East Lothian, a large toad was found in
the heart of a smooth, straight beech-tree, at the height of thirty
feet from the ground, where it was confined in a circular hole.
A gentleman who resided at Keswick, England, 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.