Chapter IV: The Self-Immured

Toads Found in Wood and Stone -- Difficulties -- Bell's Caution --
Current Explanations -- Mr Bartlett's Toad in Fir-tree -- His Letter in
Reply -- Mr Bree's Toad in Sandstone -- Mr Peacock's Toad in Lias --
Toad in Tamarind-wood in India -- Comments on the Report -- Toad in
Flint at Blois -- Toad in Iron Ore -- _Audi alteram partem_ -- Mr
Plant's Disappointment -- Seven Frogs in Nodules of Limestone -- Toad
Immured in Old Wall -- Frog in Freestone -- Toads deep in Stiff Clay --
Experiments -- Dr Buckland Immures Toads in Oolitic Limestone and
Sandstone -- Results -- Dr Buckland's Conclusions -- Toads Inclosed in
Plaster of Paris -- Critical Examination of the Experiments --
Objections to the Conclusions -- Evidence rather in Favour of Common
Belief -- Toad Sixteen Years in Closed-in Wall -- Toad in Mortar under a
Horse-block -- Indefinite Torpidity of Wasps -- Mr Bartlett Finds a Bat
in a Vault Closed for Twenty Years -- Mr Smith Finds a Bat in a Vault
Closed for One Hundred and Six Years, 146

V. HYBERNATION OF SWALLOWS.

The Question -- Popular Belief -- Scientific Statements of Swallows'
Torpidity and Submersion -- Achard's Statement -- White's Account --
Cases given by Bishop Stanley -- Supposed Torpidity of American Swift --
Hybernating Corn-crakes -- Barrington's Reports of Torpid Swallows --
Curator Wall's Story -- Fitton's Story -- Swallows in Britain during
Winter -- Cases recorded by White -- Montagu -- Yarrell -- C. Bree --
Bell -- Hewitson -- Harcourt -- Rodd -- Hadfield -- W. Bree -- Johnston
-- Gurney -- Examination of the Evidence -- Conclusion in Favour of
Torpidity, 191

VI. THE CRESTED AND WATTLED SNAKE.

Seba's Museum -- His "Thesaurus" -- Figures of Curious Serpents -- What
could they have been? -- Proofs that they were Ophidian, not Piscine --
Reports of Wonderful Serpent in Jamaica -- Singular Character of its
Habitat -- Geological and Botanical Features -- Locale of Three-fingered
Jack -- Crested Snake Killed here -- Negro Stories of its Voice -- Heard
of in Hayti -- Author's Efforts to obtain a Specimen -- Occurrence of
Two Specimens, 211