96 OUR REPTILES. 



Mr. C. Darwin mentions a similar feeling which 

 took possession of him at Eio de Janeiro : — 



After the hot days, it was delicious to sit quietly in the 

 garden, and watch the evening pass into night. Nature in these 

 climes chooses her vocalists from more humble performers than 

 in Europe, A small frog, of the genus ffyla, sits on a blade of 

 grass, about an inch above the surface of the water, and sends 

 forth a pleasing chirp : when several are together they sing in 

 harmony on different notes.* 



Probably the American frogs are really more 

 musical than ours, as they have to compensate much 

 for the loss of singing-birds, or at least melodious 

 ones. The " Old Bushman " says that in Sweden a 

 little frog emits during the pairing season a note 

 like the ringing of bells, and as this sound proceeds 

 from the depth of the water, it appears to come 

 from a long distance, although the frog may be 

 within a few fathoms. 



During the winter these Batrachians, in common 

 with others of their race, proceed to winter quar- 

 ters, hiding themselves in holes of the ground, but 

 more commonly buried in mud, congregated to- 

 gether in considerable companies. With the early 

 spring they awake from their torpidity, break up 

 their association, commence their career of love, and 

 seek fitting localities for the deposition of ova and 

 development of their young. In and about ditches 



* Darwin's "Journal of Researches," p. 29, 



