188 Miscellanies. 
The history of the Rana temporaria, common frog, is very interest- 
ing; the changes which take place in its development from the ovum 
to the perfect animal, are pointed out with a clearness which shows 
how well they are understood by the describer. Ina pleasing anecdote, 
our author proves its capability of being tamed; he states that his friend, 
Dr. William Roots, of Kingston, informed him, ‘ that he was in pos- 
session, for several years, of a frog in a perfect state of domestication. 
It appears that the lower offices of his house were what is commonh; 
called under-ground, on the banks of the Thames. That this little 
reptile accidentally appeared to his servants, oceasionally issuing from 
a hole in the skirting of the kitchen, and that during the first year of 
his sojourn, he constantly withdrew upon their approach; but from 
their showing him kindness, and offering him such food as they thought 
he could partake of, he gradually acquired habits of familiarity and 
friendship; and during the following. three years, he regularly came 
out every day, and particularly at the hour of meal-time, and partook 
of the food which the servants gave him. But one of the most re- 
markable features in his artificial state of existence, was his strong 
partiality for warmth, as during the winter seasons, he regularly (and 
contrary to the cold-blooded tendency of his nature) came out of his 
hole in the evening, and directly made for the hearth in front of @ 
good kitchen fire, where he would continue to bask and enjoy himself — 
until the family retired to rest. 
“There happened to be at the same time a favorite old doinonse 
cat, and a sort of intimacy or attachment existed between these two 
incongruous inmates; the frog frequently nestling under the warm 
fur of the cat, whilst the cat appeared extremely jealous of interrupt- 
ing the comforts and convenience of the frog. This eurious scene 
was often witnessed by many besides the family.” 
The manner in which the Bufo vulgaris, common toad, » Sheds its 
cuticle, is described very instructively, ‘ Having often found, among 
several toads which I was then keeping for the purpose of observing 
their habits, some of brighter colors than usual, and with the surface 
moist and very smooth, I had supposed that this appearance might 
have depended upon the state of the animal’s health, or the influence 
of some peculiarity in one or the other of its functions; on watching 
carefully, however, I one day observed a large one, the skin of which 
was particularly dry and dull in its colors, with a bright streak down 
the medial line of the back; and on examining further, I discovered 
_ 8 corresponding line along the belly. This proved to arise from an 
? “entire slit in the old cuticle, which exposed to view the new and bright- 
underneath. ‘Finding, therefore, what was about to happen, 
-— oe detail of this curious process. I soon observed 
