The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1903-01-13
ERRONEOUS BELIEFS.
ODD NcvioN5 AgCUr ANIMALS THAT
ARE rORN Or IGNORANCE

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 wartlikc lumpS
They cjcct 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. IL 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 a
swimming tail, but when 1t metamor-
phoscs into frog or a toad IL becomes
tnillcss. In fact. the tail does not
drop or. but Il is absorbed and disap.
pears in the body. just as swelling
| from n bump on the head disappears.
How often 60 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 taad> change from the
| tadpolc stage ana aquatic habitat to
the adult form and terrestrial habitat
and then migrate landward I'm great
numbers. They are active only ut
night or during hot weather effectual-
| ly copcealng themselves In the most
| common places during the daytime.
| However. when rain falls at such a
time they appear by thousands, as IL
by magic and give the impression OF
| having fallen with rain.
There are doubtless moro supersti
tions concerning snakes than any other
creatures This arises in part from the
traditions OF the form or the original
! temptcr ana I'm part from the fact that
but very few persons are willing TO
calmly observe sorpeuts for themselves
and learn the truth directly. We have
met persons who believe that all snakes
are vcnomous This doubtless comes
from the old Roman rule "Ab uno disco
omncs." How prevalent is the belief
that horse hairs turn TO snaEes' There
is no other foundation FOR this error
than the resemblance Of the so called
hairsnake (gordius) 10 a common horse
hair. Snakes are often supposed TO
charm birds. but the fact is that the
feathered songstors ate paralyzed by
fright when they suddenly see the rep
tiles at close proximity
The common erroneous belief that
l.,t..
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. II is very com
monty thought that snakes tails 'live"
or are active until sundown. This arises
from the prolonged activity Of the tall.
due 10 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 glass
snake or joint snake. which may be
broken 10 fragments when struck. but
can rejoint itself aud live. This may
come from the fact that certain liz
ard (Ophiosaurus ventralls) readily loses
lite tail, aud while the body escapes the
caudal member wiggles and attracts
tho attention OF tho, 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
bloodcd animals and their ability TO
store oxygen in their tissues aud use 1t
us 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 cowblrd
(molothrusl. 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
likel.
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 dllata-
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 II with the hand.
II does not move. even though IL be an
untamed animal. Cats and other noe
turnal animals are enormously thought
to emit light from their eyes because
when looking toward the light the
crystalline lens OF the eye produces a
glarlng reflection. The ideas that swans
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