[Toads, part I.] /French Folks Traditions.
Omens : Many beliefs related to the weather. Its croaking announces the rain (almost everywhere in France.)
In Vosges, to know if it will rain, during a period of drought, a toad is placed in a loaf of bread. The rain will only come when the animal has completely devoured it.
In some regions, the toad portends bad luck. Crossed on the evening of the first three days of a marriage, it predicts the death of one of the spouses or a close relative.
In Vienne, to see a toad or a spider in the same morning, a great loss is to be feared the same day.
Fascination :
The toad has a power of fascination, like the salamander. [But] it does not exercise it on humans and cattle, mainly on weasels and bees. As soon as he looks at them, his victims are magnetized and give themselves up to him.
An author of a 17th century treatise explains that he attracts the weasel which serves as an antidote to him when he has been bitten by a snake.
We have a testimony which specifies his modus operandi : he stares at her fixedly, then delimits a circle around her by jumping ; locked in this limit, she ends up rushing into his mouth.
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He does the same for the bees by simply standing in front of their hive; and can himself be a victim of fascination, when he is faced with a snake, in particular.
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[Excerpts arranged by me from Sebillot / Joisten / Delmas. Pic @MQ ]