The Green Prog 



can see the lateral folds on their sides. All is silent. Their eyes 

 are watchful. Occasionally one moves a short distance in such 

 a way — half-floating, half-swimming — that the water is un- 

 disturbed. One eats a water-strider, making a slight splash and 

 ripple of the water as he uses his hands to help get the insect's 

 long legs into his mouth. Having finished the first, he devours 

 another. A second frog snaps up a back-swimmer (see p. 183) 

 that has rushed to the surface for a breath of air. A large dragon- 

 fly larva (see p. 182) creeps right under one frog's nose. He 

 dives for it with a great splash of the water, and if we can judge 

 by his look of satisfaction and the number of times the great eyes 

 are lowered and lifted, success met his efi'ort. A company of 

 whirligig beetles circles near one of the frogs. He sees them at 

 a distance of three or more feet, and swims slowly about half 

 the distance towards them. They approach still nearer. There! 

 He snaps up one, then another, then a third. The company 

 takes alarm; some dive under the water (each with its silver 

 bubble of air) , others dash over the surface to join a second com- 

 pany farther away. 



And so on. A small pond has infinite numbers of large 

 and small forms of life, in a world practically concealed from 

 us. In this world each creature is wholly intent on his one 

 interest of the moment, whether it be escape from a devouring 

 enemy, or the finding of a mate, or a snug retreat, or a breakfast. 

 This little world reminds us of our own, in the fact that very often 

 the interests of various individuals clash. 



Green Frogs feed upon the fairy shrimps' of icy March pools. 



The Green Frogs come early from their hibernation in the 

 mud and moss about the ponds. They appear early enough 

 to feed upon the delicate fairy shrimps' of icy March pools. The 



1 Braxichipus. 



203 



