FROGS AND TOADS. 107 



hatched, appears as in Figure 176, with the gills in 

 tufts on the two sides of the neck ; later, it appears as 

 in Figure 177, where the gills are concealed; later, it 

 appears as in Figure 178, where it has hind legs ; later, 

 as in Figure 179, with four legs ; later still, as in Fig- 

 ure 180, where the tail has mostly disappeared; and 

 later still, it becomes a perfect frog. 



FROGS AND TOADS. 



These have the body short and thick, and the tongue 

 is long and fixed to the fore part of the jaw, and its tip 

 is turned backward into the mouth, from which it can 

 be darted forth quicker than a glance of the eye ; and 

 it is by means of the tongue that frogs and toads snap 

 up insects and worms, which form their principal food. 

 The Bull-frog is our largest kind, and is well known by 

 its croakings, which may be heard a mile. The Green 



Fig. 182. Leopard Frog. 



Frog, Leopard Frog, Pickerel Frog, are other kinds that 

 are found about ponds and streams. The Wood-frog 

 is found in the woods, and goes to the water only in 

 spring, when it lays its eggs. The Tree-frogs, often 

 called Tree-toads, have the toes so formed that they 



