The Habits, Food and Economic Value of the American Toad, (Lentiginosus Americanus Lec.) (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

Excerpt from The Habits, Food and Economic Value of the American Toad, (Lentiginosus Americanus Lec.)

That the early students of natural history were in a measure cog nizant of the habits of the toad, there is ample evidence in the older writings upon animals, but most unfortunately from a scientific standpoint, the ancient savants who did so much to.establish the study of nature, too frequently confounded current superstition with actual fact, and hence we find the early literature upon this interest ing batrachian teeming with vague and ludicrous fancies as to its venomous qualities, its medicinal virtues or, most commonly, the hidden toad~stone of priceless value. In this connection it may not be amiss to briefly cite some of these ancient fanciful ideas, for, although they pertain in general to the European species which are distinct from the American, it is quite evident that when our worthy ancestors explored the fauna of our stern and rock bound coast they had but little difficulty in adapting the whole host of venerable old world traditions to the new world toads, and thus implanted here superstitions, which, strange as it may seem, still have their devout adherents.

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