Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-03-12
ERRONEOUS BELIEFS !.
ODD NOTIONS ABOUT ANIMALS THAT
ARE BORN OF IGNORANCE.

Some superstitions About Toads and
Snakes Explained Avay-NocturnaI
Animals and Their Eyes = Lambs
and Sheep and Their Tails.
It is commonly believed that toads
cause warts. This IS based upon the
following combination of facts: Toads
are the only common animals that are
naturally covered with wartlike Jumps.
They eject a clear liquid. This is sup
posed to do something. Warts appear
mysteriously, and no one is able to ex-
plain the causes of their coming and
going. 1t is enormously inferred that
they are produced by this wart bear
ing, nocturnal creature with peculiar
habits, upon the basis of the doctrine
that like produces like" The COM
mon belief that tadpoles shed their
tails has for its origin the facts that
while living in water each possesses
swimming tail, but when it metamor-
phoses into frog or toad it becomes
ldllGSS. LII ldCl, lAc ldl1 OOSS IUI
drop off, but it is absorbed and disap-
pears in the body, just as a swelling
from a bump on the head disappears.
How often do we hear that frogs and
toads have fallen with rain, and almost
every July we may read accounts OF
such phenomena. These may have for
their basis the fact that during the
month of July toads change from the
tadpole stage and aquatic habitat to
the adult form and terrestrial habitat
and then migrate landward in great
numbers. They are active only at
night CT during hot weather, effectual-
iy coneealing themselves in the most
common places during the daytime.
However, when rain falls at such
time they appear by thousands, as If
by magic, and give the impression Of
having fallen with rain.
There are doubtless more supersti-
tions concerning snakes than any other
creatures. This arises in part from the
traditions of the form Of the original
tenipter and in part from the fact that
but very few persons are willing to
calmly observe serpents for themselves
and learn the truth directly. We have
met persons who believe that all snakes
are Venomous. This doubtless comes
from the old Roman rule, HAb uno disco
omnes." How prevalent is the belief
that horse hairs turn to snakes! There
is no other foundation for this error
than the resemblance of the SO called
hairsnake (gordius) to common horse
hair. Snakes are often supposed to
charm birds, but the fact is that the
feathered songsters are paralyzed by
fright when they suddenly see the rep
tiles at close proximity.
The common erroneous belief that
snakes sting Or bite by means of their
tongues may come from the Scriptural
quotation, at stingeth like an adder"
The supposition that snakes bite them
selves and die is doubtless based upon
the actions Of certain species, like the
hog nosed adder, which when teased
will act as though dead and thus some
times find protection. 1t is very COM
monty thought that snakes tails "live''
or are active until sundown. This arises
from the prolonged activity of the tail,
due to the reflex action of the caudal
nerve centers, which may continue for
a longer Or shorter period owing to tenn
perature and other conditions. Many
persons believe that there is a glass
snake or joint snake, which may be
broken to fragments when struck, but
can rejoint itself and live. This may
come from the fact that certain liz
ard (Ophiosaurus yentraIis) readily loses
its tail, and while the body escapes the
caudal member wiggles and attracts
the attention of the pursuer.
The erroneous idea that turtles
breathe under water as do fishes, is de-
rived from the observations of their
having remained submerged for some
hours. But this is made possible by
their lung capacity, their limited need
of oxygen compared with that of warm
blooded animals and their ability to
store oxygen in their tissues and use it
as needed.
Both species of American cuckoos
(genus coccyzus) build nests, contrary
to the popular belief. The error comes
from the fact that the European
cuckoo (cuculus) builds no nests, but Is
parasitic, laying its eggs in the nests
of other birds, as does our cowbird
(molothrus). The old idea that "a sight
of the oriole cures jaundice' doubtless
is connected with the yellow color OF
the bird and the homeopathic doctrine
"Similia similibus curantur" Qike cures
like.
/ Most persons believe that owls, cats
and other nocturnal animals can see
In absolute darkness. This error arises
from the fact that in these animals the
pupil of the eye is very large or dilata-
BILE, and in subdued or very feeble
light they can see much better than
can man. One can readily demonstrate
the fallacy of the supposition by tax
ing an owl or other nocturnal animal
into perfectly dark room, as we have
done, and touching it with the hand
1t does not move, even though it be an
untamed animal. Cats and other noe
turnal animals are enormously thought
y
when looking toward the light the
crystalline lens of the eye produces a
glaring reflection. The ideas that swans
sing when dying and moles open their
eyes at the time of death are handed
down from the writings of Pliny and
represent ignorance of the fac,s of
zoology.
We were once seriously asked oy a
teacher, 'At what age do the little
lambs tails drop OFF," He had accu-
rately observed that the tails Of the
lambs are long, while those of the old
sheep are short. and he had obtained
a false idea, which is, however, preya
lent. OF course he was shocked to
learn that sheep raisers amputate the
tafs to prevent the soiling of the wool
Forest and Stream.
How to Boil Bananas.
To boil bananas, peel and cut in