18 STORY OF THE AMPHIBIANS 



inch in depth ran to the outer world. In this case 

 he thinks that the very young Triton crawled in 

 through this hole — not so large as a big broom -straw 

 — and grew so that it could not get out. It was a 

 year or two old and two inches long when found, and 

 the naturalist thinks that sufficient food may have 

 strayed in there to support it. It is probable that in 

 some other cases an outer opening may have been 

 overlooked. At any rate the subject is an interesting 

 one in this connection. 



It has been said that amphibians do not drink. 

 Just how this is proved in all cases the author does 

 not know. It is well known that the frogs can con- 

 dense water into their bodies by means of their skins, 

 or absorb it from green leaves by means of special 

 glands ; that they have a reservoir of pure water 

 within the body that is filled quite likely in this way. 

 To say that the aquatic kinds never drink is a broad 

 assertion, but that they may have no need to do so 

 may be true, because in this case also the skin may 

 merely absorb a sufficient quantity. 



