22 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
advise our readers to give themselves this instructive and easy 
lesson in natural history. 
At present there exist two species of Frog in Europe: the Green 
or Edible Frog, and the Common Frog. The Green Frog is that 
which we have described, and of which. we have given a representa- 
tion in Fig. 4. They are found in running streams and stagnant 
waters. Iti is this species to which La Fontaine alludes in one of his 
fables. Common Frogs are smaller than the preceding ; they inhabit 
damp places in fields and vineyards, and only return to the water 
to breed or to pass the winter. 
The flesh of the Edible Frog is very tender, aii and delicate. 
As an article of food it is highly esteemed by some, and deservedly 
so. Prepared in the same manner, Green Frogs closely resemble 
very young fowls in taste. In almost all parts of France Frogs are 
disdained as articles of food ; it is only in the south that a taste 
for them is openly avowed, and there Frogs are sought for. and 
brought to market. Therefore, I never could comprehend how the 
notion popular in England, when it is wished to express contempt 
for Frenchmen, should be to call them frog-eaters, It is a reproach 
which might be addressed to Provencals and Languedocians, like the 
author of this work, but not at all to the majority of Frenchmen. 
The Green Tree Frog (/y/a) is easily distinguished by having 
little plates under its toes. ‘These organs are a species of sucker, by 
means of which the animal is enabled, like the house-fly, to cling 
strongly to any surface, however smooth and polished it may be. 
The smoothest branch, even the lower surface of a leaf, forms a 
sufficient hold and support to these delicate organs, 
The upper part of the body is of a beautiful green, the lower 
part, where little tubercules are visible, is white. A yellow line, 
lightly bordered with violet, extends on each side of the head and 
back, from the muzzle to the hind legs. A similar line runs from 
the jaw to the front legs. The head is short, the mouth round, and 
the eyes raised. Much smaller than the ordinary Frog, they are far 
more graceful. During the summer they live upon the leaves of 
trees in damp woods, but pass the winter at the bottom of stagnant 
pools of water, which they do not leave till the month of May, 
having previously deposited their eggs. They feed on small insects, 
worms, and molluscs. During the glare,of the sun they remain 
hidden amongst the leaves, but when twilight approaches they 
become more active. We must repeat of these Green Tree Frogs 
what we have already said of Frogs: get rid of all prejudice towards 
their kind, and then you will examine with pleasure their brilliant 
