The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-07-11
The vitality Of the Toad.

I
DR.. auckland, the eminent naturalist,
once made series Of extremely inter-
esting experiments that showed exactly
the vitality of the toad. Two blocks Of
stone were selected, one being taken
from the oolite limestone. In this first
stone twelve cells were excavated, each
cell being one foot deep and FIVE inches
in diameter, and the mouth of each be-
ing grooved so as to admit of two COW
ers being placed over the aperture; the
first or lower cover being of glass. and
the upper one of slate. Both covers
were SO adapted that they could be
firmly luted down with clay or putty;
the object of this double protection be-
ing that the slate cover could be raised
so as to inspect the contained object
through the closed glass without adj
hitting air. In the second or sandstone
block series of twelve holes was also
excavated; these latter cells, however,
being of smaller size than those of the
limestone block, each cell being only
six inches in depth by five inches in di-
ameter. These cells were likewise fitted
with double covers. On November rs,
1925, live toad kept for some time
previously to insure its being healthy
was placed in each of the tWenty-four
cells. The largest specimen weighed
1875 grains, and the smallest lis
grains. The stones and the immured
toads were buried, on the day mem
toned, three feet deep in DR.. Buck
/. lands garden. There they lay until
December 10, 1926, when they were
disinterred, and their tenants examined.
All the toads in the smaller cells of the
sandstone block were dead, and, from
the progress Of decomposition, it was
inferred that they had succumbed long
before the date of disinterment. The
majority of the toads in the limestone
block were alive, and, curious
~ enough, one or two had
actually increased in weight. Thus
No. 5, which at the commencement OF
its captivity had weighed 1,1S5 grains,
had increased to 1866 grains, but the
glass cover of No. SIS cell was found to
be cracked Insects and air must,
therefore, have obtained admittance
and have afforded nourishment to the
imprisoned toad; this supposition being
rendered the more likely by the discovery
that in one of the cells, the covers OF
which were also cracked and the tenant
of which was dead, numerous insects
were found. No 9, weighing originally
98S grains, had increased during its in
generation to l, 116 grains; but No. l.,
which in the year 1925 had weighed 924
grains, was found in December, 1926,
to have decreased to 698 grains; and
No. IL, originally weighing 936 grains,
had likewise disagreed with the impris-
onment, weighing only 652 grains when
examined in 1926. At the period when
the blocks of stone were thus prepared
four toads were pinned up in holes five
inches deep and three inches in dame
ter. cut in the stem of an apple-tree,
the hole being firmly plugged with
tightly-fitting wooden plugs. These
four toads were found to be dead when
examined, along with the Others in
1926; and of four others inclosed in
basins made of plaster of Paris, and
which were also buried in DR.. Buck
lands garden, two were found to be
dead at the end of a year, their COM
rades being alive, but looking starved
and meager. The toads which were
found alive in the limestone block in
December, 1926, were agained immured
and buried, but were found to be dead,
without leaving single survivor at the
end of the second year of their inpris-
Onment.- Cincinnati E2aQat9rer.