712 REPTILIA — FROG. 



countries round Hudson's Bay, it is often found frozen hard, in which state 

 it is as brittle as glass ; yet, by wrapping it in warm skins, and exposing it 

 to a slow fire, it will return to life. 



The difference of sexes, which was mentioned above, is not perceivable 

 in these animals, until they have arrived at their fourth year ; nor do they 

 begin to propagate, till they have completed that period. By comparing 

 their slow growth with their other habitudes, it would appear, that they live 

 about twelve years; but having so many enemies, both by land and water, 

 it is probable that few of them arrive at the end of their term. 



Frogs live upon insects of all kinds; but they never eat any, unless they 

 have motion. They continue fixed and immoveable till their prey appears; 

 and just when it comes sufficiently near, they jump forward with great agili- 

 ty, dart out their tongues, and seize it with certainty. The tongue in this 

 animal, as in the toad, lizard, and serpent, is extremely long, and formed in 

 such a manner that it swallows the point down its throat ; so that a length 

 of tongue is thus drawn out, like a sword from its scabbard, to assail its 

 prey. This tongue is furnished with a glutinous substance ; and whatever 

 insect it touches infallibly adheres, and is thus held fast till it is drawn into 

 the mouth. 



The croaking of frogs is well known , whence in some countries they are 

 distinguished by the ludicrous title of Dutch nightingales. The large water 

 or bull frogs of the northern countries have a note as loud as the bellowing 

 of a bull ; and, for this purpose, puff up the cheeks to a surprising magni- 

 tude. Of all frogs, however, the male only croaks; the female is silent; 

 before wet weather, their voices are in full exertion ; they are then heard 

 with unceasing assiduity, sending forth their call, and welcoming the ap- 

 proaches of their favorite moisture. No weather-glass was ever so true as 

 a frog, in foretelling an approaching change. This may probably serve to 

 explain an opinion which some entertain, that there is a month in the year, 

 called Paddock Moon, in which the frogs never croak : the whole seems to 

 be no more than that, in the hot season, when the moisture is dried away, 

 and consequently, when these animals neither enjoy the quantity of health 

 nor food that at other times they are supplied with, they show by their silence 

 how much they are displeased with the weather. 



As frogs adhere closely to the backs of their own species, so it has been 

 found, by repeated experience, they will also adhere to the backs of fishes. 

 Few that have ponds, but know that these animals will stick to the backs of 

 carp, and fix their fingers in the corner of each eye. In this manner thev 

 are often caught together; the carp blinded, and wasted away. 



