14 ABOUT ORCHIDS. 
exterminate the insects. Every ventilator there 
is covered with perforated zinc—to prevent insects 
setting in; but, by some means approaching the 
miraculous, all my Hylce contrived to escape. 
Several were caught in the garden and put back, 
but again they found their way to the open-air ; 
and presently my fruit-trees became vocal. So 
far, this is the experience of every one, probably, 
who has tried to keep green frogs. Butin my case 
they survived two winters—one which everybody 
recollects, the most severe of this generation. My 
frogs sang merrily through the summer; but 
all in a neighbour’s garden. I am not acquainted 
with that family; but it is cheering to think how 
much innocent diversion I have provided for its 
members. 
Pleasant also it is, by the way, to vindicate the 
character of green frogs. I never heard them 
spoken of by gardeners but with contempt. Not 
only do they persist in escaping ; more than that, 
they decline to catch insects, sitting motionless all 
day long—pretty, if you like, but useless. The 
fact is, that all these creatures are nocturnal of 
habit. Very few men visit their orchid-houses at 
night, as I do constantly. They would see the 
frogs active enough then, creeping with wondrous 
dexterity among the leaves, and springing like a 
