wise render its skin so dry as to prevent its movement, and in the end cause its death. Disgusting, however, as this creature appears, the negroes in Surinam will eat the hinder legs of the species figured in our engraving. Toads are known to reach a very great age.

The following account of a toad is given in KNIGHT'S Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature. It confirms the idea that this animal is long-lived, and the facts are authenticated by a lady :

"When I returned from school (said she) for my holidays, forty-two years since, on approaching a piece of water, to my great horror I saw an immense fat spotted thing lying sprawling in the sun; it yawned and stretched out its legs. I had never before seen a toad, and away I ran for some one to tell me what it could be. "Why, miss, it's a toad! but I'll soon fetch a stone and put it out of the way. Depend on it, by its lying there, that it has had a blow from somebody.' 'No,' said I, 'you shall not kill him, Sarah.' 'Why, miss, did you say him? he is not him, we always says it.' 'Very well, then, if you are not afraid, take this parasol and turn it over into the water.' 'If you are not afraid, miss, to see me,' said she, 'I will mark it, so that you may know it again.' She did so, to my horror, and then put it into the water.

It was evident that the creature had been hurt, but as soon as it reached the watery element, it darted forward, and was quickly out of sight. On the following morning, as if by instinct, I approached the edge of the water. I saw the toad distinctly. The next day I carried a few crumbs of bread, and sprinkled them on the top of the water; the flock of little minnows came to regale themselves, and at length I saw my old acquaintance. At first he was very cautious; but I felt it a sort of duty to my feelings to pay him a daily visit, and I exacted a promise from Sarah that she would, as far as in her power, protect the creature in my absence.

Five years after that period I married, an i having things of much more importance to attend to, I forgot poor old toady.

At twenty years from that period I became a widow, and inheriting this property I returned here to reside. The second morning after my arrival, I walked round the lawn and the paddock, and unconsciously walked to the spot on which I had so often loitered with the bread crumbs. 'Ah!' said I, 'things are sadly changed. This spot, once so enchanting to me, has lost all its interest; all, all gone, save myself! Even the poor toad, could it have lived so long, would have been something to greet me.' My soliloquy was,

however, interrupted by the voice of Old Sarah. ‘Well, maʼm, about the toad,' said she, ‘I quite forgot to tell you that, about four years ago, the moat was again cleared out, and master desired if your toad was alive, that it should be put back again; and John Brown said it was the ugliest thing he ever saw ; and, I am sure, ma'm, I have seen it, though it dont come to the top.' 'Did you ever give it any crumbs?' said I.

'Well, ma'm, who would ever think of doing such a ridiculous thing but you? Oh, I beg a thousand pardons,' said she, curtseying to the earth; but you were very young then; and I dare say you have often thought since that it was very silly.'

'I am now looking for the creature, Sarah, and wish for a few bread crumbs.'

Sarah looked quite astonished, and went silently to obey my wishes.

Now, perhaps (continued the lady) you will think me silly; but what I shall tell you is a fact. I saw a large bulky creature crawling, rather than swimming, close to the edge of the moat; but, at the sound of Sarah's footsteps, it immediately glided away.

"Thank you, Sarah,' said I. Leave me the bread, and go in; and in ten minutes bring my shawl.' I now dropped a few of my crumbs; and at length slowly appeared the same monster toad,

picking up the crumbs, as my own toad had done in former days. But I went away satisfied that my Old Johnny, as I had named him, had died, or had suffered a violent death. Having lost some ducklings, the Steward ordered the moat to be cleared out. Sarah expressed the greatest anxiety lest he should hurt Old Johnny; 'for,' said she, 'I am sure he is there; for I heard my grandfather say, that his father and himself had a frog for more than seventy years-and toads live much longer.'

Sure enough, the great creature which I had so recently seen was Old Johnny, and the mark which Sarah's scissors had so cruelly subjected him to, had grown larger with his growth. The longevity of Johnny is not to be disputed, for I must finish my story as I began it; it is forty-two years since the holidays that first made us acquainted, and to-morrow morning I hope to show him to you eating his crumbs. Like myself he is greatly changed, but to judge by his appetite his health is good; his spots have changed colour, and so has my complexion; old associations are wonderfully strong; and when I now see Old Johnny I seem to think only of times gone by, and so an otherwise dull hour is sometimes made an agreable one."

MY DEAR CHILDREN,-When the Missionaries go to India, they cannot go by a coach, or railway, as people travel here, but have to go in a large ship, and sail on the deep wide sea about sixteen thousand miles; and often it takes them four or five months to go such a long way. In all this time, perhaps they do not see land more than once and when they do see it, it is not England, but some island in the midst of the sea, where they frequently take in more provision. When they leave England, they are obliged to take a good