COMMON FROG 
musician, the Thrush, inspires us with hope afresh and 
captivates the ear. The majestic sweep of a Buzzard 
in ever-widening circles, or the love-flight of the Skylark, 
cannot fail to hold one entranced, but these creatures of 
the lowly earth, especially if they glide, creep, crawl, 
or hop, are looked upon with disdain. It is indeed a 
poser for which I cannot suggest an explanation. The 
Common Frog is well distributed, and there are few 
Skull of Skull of 
Common Frog. Common Toad 
Nig 18. fig 19. 
ponds, ditches, and other water courses in Spring that 
are unfrequented by it. At other times it resorts to 
lush meadows and shady places, though there is no 
telling the curious situations in which it may be found. 
In Winter it hibernates, seeking any retreat likely to serve 
it best, and in Autumn it puts on a surplus supply of fat 
to tide it over its fast. "The males and females make their 
way to their breeding quarters in March, sometimes 
earlier or later according to the season, and after mating 
the eggs are deposited in the water. At first they sink 
D 39 
