THE FROGS AND TOADS. 313 



CHAPTER I. THE FROGS AND TOADS. 



The frogs are in their habit more or less aquatic, while 

 the toads, on the other hand, are more or less terrestrial. 



TJie common British Frog was introduced into Ireland 

 a couple of centuries ago. The early metamorphoses of 

 Common this species are those of all the group. The 

 Frog. spawn is deposited in ponds in early spring, 

 floating at the surface in irregular masses. In three or 

 four weeks the tadpoles are hatched out. These remark- 

 able little creatures breathe by gills enclosed in a fold of 

 skin. The mouth is beak-like, the food consisting in all 

 probability of small organisms and water-plants. The 

 tail is long. Gradually this tail is absorbed, the limbs 

 develop, the mouth loses its beak form, and step by step 

 the tadpole emerges into the perfect frog, a being of very 

 different characters, breathing by lungs, and feeding on 

 land- and water-insects. Some tropical frogs are expert 

 climbers, the discs on the toes enabling them to scale per- 

 pendicular surfaces, even of glass. The eye, the pupil of 

 which is horizontal, is furnished with a nictitating mem- 

 brane and two other lids. The frog is able to glance side- 

 ways. The characters of the common frog need scarcely 

 be given in detail. In colour it is brownish, with or 

 without spots. The female is larger than the male. The 

 hind-leg is long, and the toes webbed ; the forefoot of the 

 male develops a swelling in the breeding season. The frog 

 captures most of its insect food with the aid of its tongue, 

 which is protruded, being tipped with a viscid secretion. 



[There has always been some doubt as to the exact 



claim of this Continental form to a place in the British 



Edible list, but it appears to me, since it was intro- 



Frog. duced at an indefinite date and is now general 



among the fens, that this claim is at any rate as strong as 



