DOMESTICATED NATURE 



287 



The Curious Swimming Frogs. 



All frogs can swim but most frogs do 

 not stay in the water all the time. The 

 African swimming frogs are thoroughh 

 aquatic in their habits, and live in perma- 

 nent pools which they have never been 

 observed to leave voluntarily. 



In the Reptile House of the .\e\v York 

 Zoological Park three species of these 

 frogs are on exhibition. The "Zoological 

 Society P.ulletin" sa}s of the largest, 

 known as the smooth clawed frog: 



'Tt attains a length of body of four 

 inches and has a smooth skin, except for 

 several rows of thread-like filaments on 

 the head and body. Its color i-^ dull 

 olive, with large variously-snaiDel spois 

 on the back and limbs. The throat and 

 abdomen are white, sometimes faintly 

 spotted with brown. The head is com- 

 paratively small, flat, with small eyes, 

 situated on top and looking uoward. A 

 star-shaped pattern of fine white filaments 

 surrounds the eye. The mouth, which 

 has teeth in the upper jaw only, is very 

 wide. The three inner toes carry sharp, 

 horny claws at their tios. The home of 

 this frog is tropical Africa southward to 

 Cape Town." 



SKKKXITV AND CURlUSriV. 



Cut by courtesy of The C. P. Goerz American Optical 



Company, New York City. 



The Fir. 



(Watched from a train.) 

 In phalanxes of green it crowns 



The hills,, afar and near; 

 E'er breathing incense on the air, 



So crisp and crystal clear. 



Its spires pointing heavenward. 



To where the cloudlands lie, 

 And melting off itself anon 



Into the sunset sky. 



— Emma Peirce. 



AFRICAN SWIMMING FROGS. 

 Cut by courtesy of tiie "Zoological Society Bulletin," New York City. 



