94 RANAD^E. 



necessarily persecuting and killing them, would be advan- 

 tageous to a much greater extent than could at first sight 

 be believed. This consideration ought surely to weigh even 

 with those who are inaccessible to the appeals of humanity, 

 in favour of this innocent and much-persecuted race. 



The manner in which the Frog takes its food is very in- 

 teresting. As in the Toad, the posterior part of the tongue 

 is free, and being imbued with a viscous secretion at the 

 extremity, it is suddenly thrown forwards upon the insect, 

 which, being caught by the adhesive matter upon it, is in- 

 stantly drawn into the mouth by the sudden return of the 

 tongue to its former position, and is then swallowed. This 

 is but the work of an instant ; and, indeed, is performed 

 with such rapidity, as scarcely to be detected without care- 

 ful watching. 



Like the rest of the Amphibia and the Reptilia, the 

 Frogs retire, on the aj)proach of winter, to their hibernating 

 retreats, where they pass the dreary season in a state of 

 absolute torpidity. This is generally in the mud at the 

 bottom of the water, where they are not only preserved in 

 a nearly equal temperature, though at a low degree, but 

 also secured from external injury. Here they congregate 

 in multitudes, embracing each other so closely as to appear 

 almost as one continuous mass. On the return of spring 

 they separate from each other, emerge from their places of 

 retirement, and recommence their active life by exercising 

 the important function of the reproduction of their species. 

 Here we enter upon the most interesting scene in the his- 

 tory of these animals ; for it is here that the peculiar cha- 

 racters which distinguish them from all other forms, are 

 most strikingly shewn ; and I shall, therefore, enter some- 

 what in detail into the different steps of the development of 

 the embryo, and of the changes which take place in the 



