The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-08-09
From the Ohio Farmer.
TOADS. Hufo vuigaris.)


From the earliest recollection of the "oidest
Inhabitants this little creature has been un-
der the ban, source of terror TO every little
Miss. an object Of disgust to maids and mat
rons, byword and reproach for every old
aunt and grandma in the land, who would
never seek farther in their vocabulary OF op-
probous terms for suitable name TOR any
iittle urchin, than to call him "little nasty
toad." Boys have made 1t their sport, have
pelted it with stones. pierced IT through and
through with sharp sticks, substituted 1t IN
the place Of ball, upon bat board throw
ing it high in the air. and exulting IN us ior
ture; and even men in the field, hoeing their
crops, have been wont 70 rudely thrust II aside
with their hoes, as a useless reptile' "ohuef-
inc for what purpose such loathsome object
conld have been created. The Toad has been
accused Of being venemous reptile, ut OBJ
iect Of dread, posoner Of choice garden
nlants deserving Punishment from every one ;
premises, and fit only to inhablt an nninhob-
ttaLIe norass or desert The toad has, how
ever. occasionally been brought into respecta-
bic notice by curiosity hunters, and newspa-
per paragraph writers, whenever he has chanc-
ed to have been found in the torpid state IN
the cavity Of a rock, or in the trunk OF tree,
in which cases, an antiquity has been ascrib-
ed to it equal to that of Egyptian Munhnies,
or perhaps set down Of antedeluViah origin
In this manner, poor toady mas gone 'no
rounds Of pswspaper r9s2Fie' But E' THIS as poor
and despised creature has not been left entire
ly friendless, nor without an advocate
Naturalists have placed him in the scale OF
usefulness where he belongs, and have shown
that he is not deserving the very many oppro-
buns that have been heaped upon him.
To the gardener, the toad is very useful
EfSfa - -.
sects and worms that prey upon the plants
la the dusk of the evening, the toad comes
from its hiding place. and commences its work
DISCRIMINATION. Noiselessly il passes through
the garden, RECALLING itself upon the insects
that have ust begun their nocturnal work
upon the tender plants. No one but those
who have observed the movements of this
iitus animal. can form any correct estimate of
its usefulness. few evenings since. /
watched one short time and observed that
In the space of fifteen minutes, it devoured
some fifteen or twenty insects, Of that class
too, that in the dav. tipe. lie concealed from
forth in armies to carry on their work of de-
struction, to lay waste the gardener toll. 1t
would be a matter Of economy fer those who
till the ground. to provide the toad with a
suitable place for retreat in the day time, thus
virtually saying to him: my dear little fellow,
l value your services, and will do all l can
for your comfort"
With proper appreciation for his services,
and care for his preservation. the toad will be-
come quite domesticated, and will continue
his valuable work for years, simply for his
board and lodging" Those who wantonly |
destroy the toad should be classed with those .
who kill harmless and useful birds.
Some years ago a family in Bracevile,
hul county obsarveI ono day in no
hall of the house. a large toad, leaping along
in an orderly and moderate way towards the
dining room door. 1t entered the room and
took circuit around. then stationed itself be- .
tween the door and a window, and sat there
all day; whenever fly came near enough, he .
would catch it. and as this was quite often,
the work of determination went on bravely;
sometimes he would spring up foot or more
for fly upon the wall. At shutdown he went
ont to enjoy the refreshing GOODNESS of the
evening, and probably, the society of his kim
dred. The next day. to the surprise of the
family, he came in and took the same place
by the door, and SO continued to do during
the whole summer. The family whose prem
ises We're unceremoniously occup. ed, being
aware of the useful and harmless nature Of
their visitor, and being curious to learn its
habits. allowed it To remain. Thus the toad
carried on the war against the flies, until au-
tumn, when they. having become greatly re-
duced in numbers. and it being difficult for
him any longer TO obtain supplies by forage,
he concluded to go into winter quarters
Immediately on the opening of the spring
campaign, however, he was at his old post
His message TO the flies, near can be as
certained, was, Come. and I'll take you:"
they came, were seen, and were swallowed.
The enemy being immensely numerous, the
war was carried on in the same way, and in
the same place, for SIR years, the toad in the
meanw lille having grown strong and increased
in stature. and having regularly spent every
night skylarking.
He was cool and prompt in action. and
moreover a very slippery antagonist; whene
anything was slid TO him by any person pas
sing his stand, his eyes would twinkle in a
very pleasant way. The only weapon he
long and rough. The human tongue is
known TO be an exceedingly formidable wea-
pom. but no one has been known 10 be swal
lowed outright by its means, though a great
many have been taken ia.
Sometimes a fly would light within foot
of toady and sit rubbing its miraculous little
feet with great delight apparently. when the
toad. initiating the notorious Jetireys, would
"giye them lick with the rough side of his
tongne,' and the poor fly would be condemn
ed and executed instantly.
In one respect, however. the immortal JEFF
freys, had the advantage of the toad. for he
could smell puritan mile off, he said
while the toad had no sense of smell appar-
emily, but was in point of practice all tongue
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