Art. V. Frogs, and their Contributions to Science. 

 By John V. Lansing, M.D. 



[Read before the Albany Institute.] 



The little tail-less animal we have chosen as the subject 

 of this evening's paper, has few attractions of form, is 

 quite retired in its habits, and stands not very high on the 

 scale of animated beings. To most persons indeed, there 

 is usually something forbidding in the appearance, cer- 

 tainly something repulsive in the touch; while the common 

 thought thinks of frogs as it does of reptiles, such as 

 snakes and lizards, as things to be shuddered at and 

 avoided. 



A moment's consideration, however, of the position 

 they have occupied in the world's history, thoughts and 

 progress compared with more pretentious animals, removes 

 from them the idea of insignificancy, invests them with 

 exceeding interest, and even dignifies their creation as 

 having been designed for special, wise and holy purposes. 



They figure by no means meanly in mythology, in 

 ancient song, in sacred writ, and in later years prominently 

 upon the page of science. 



We learn from Esop, the classic and accomplished ani- 

 mal linguist as well as naturalist, some facts in regard to 

 frogs in their social and individual relations, that we 

 could not have learned in any other way. We learn that 

 they were originally democratic in their government, and 

 happy in their condition, but like mortals touched with 

 feelings of vanity and ambition, they became discontented 

 and sighed after royalty, and that Jupiter yielding to their 

 wishes, gave them a king in the shape of a cruel stork, 

 who, while he reigned over, amused himself by devouring 



