FROGS. 309 
— 
this species which was the hero of Mark Twain’s well-known story. 
I have heard, though I do not believe it, that an active man by 
jumping, or, as school-boys say, ‘‘ clubbing,”’ cannot overtake the 
creature when it has got a short start. The late Rev. J. G. 
Wood says, in the ‘‘ Boy’s Own Book of Natural History,” that 
“an Indian was not able to overtake an irritated Bull Frog after it 
had sprung three leaps in advance.”’ This summer I was forcibly 
reminded of this heavy-looking animal’s activity. I placed a fine 
specimen in a run made for Tuatera Lizards (Sphenodon punc- 
tatus), and unwisely imagined that he would be in safe confine- 
ment. The run has a fence about 2ft. high, and a ledge fixed 
inside to prevent any escape by climbing. The Frog, however, 
jumped out and gained his freedom for some time. For four 
months he was at liberty in a walled garden, telling us occasionally 
of his whereabouts by bellowing during heavy showers. Anyone 
who went to the spot to recapture him would surely be disappoin- 
ted, for, with a few bounds, the animal would quickly travel to 
some other part of the garden. However, when autumn had 
arrived he returned of his own accord to the conservatory from 
which he had escaped, all the better, I think, for his little 
adventure. I was glad to have him back, for he is a great 
favourite. 
He is very useful for entertaining visitors. | For example, if a 
friend expresses a wish to hear the Frog make the strange noise 
by which he has obtained his English name, he has not long to 
wait before his wish is gratified. ‘‘ But,” I imagine a reader 
saying, “ how can this be managed. I can’t believe that a Frog 
will croak by word of command. A dog, I know, can be made to 
bark by exciting him, a cock to crow by imitating him, a donkey 
to stop braying by tying a weight to its tail, but how a Frog is to 
be made to bellow I do not kuow.” However, this particular 
Frog of mine will nearly always be persuaded to roar, and very 
loudly too, if water be slowly poured from one can to another. I 
have often thus used water, while I watched with amusement the 
look upon my guests’ faces as they heard for the first time the 
curious sound, 
The Bull Frog has, like the Ceratophrys, an enormous mouth, 
which he certainly knows quite well how to use. A full-grown 
