COMMON AND EDIBLE PROG. 215 



of them on the ground, in the neighbourhood of ditches 

 or ponds. They subsist, principally, on insects and worms. 



Common and Edible Frog. Each of these kinds of 



Frogs is well known throughout all parts of Europe. 



During the spring and summer seasons, they principally 

 jside in the water, where they deposit their spawn, 

 his consists of a mass of gelatinous, transparent, and 

 .obular eggs, from six hundred to a thousand in number, 

 i the middle of each of which is contained the young 

 nimal, or tadpole, in the form of a black globule. In 

 bout thirty days the little creatures tear their way 

 ut. In this state they are, in almost every respect, 

 oth of formation and appearance, very different from 

 le parent animals. They have, beneath the under jaw, 

 sucker, by means of which they are able to adhere to 

 le lower surface of aquatic plants ; their intestines are 

 oiled into a flat, spiral form, somewhat resembling a 

 able in miniature ; they are entirely destitute of legs, 

 nd are furnished with a tail. In about six weeks, their 

 egs first begin to appear; and in about three weeks after 

 his, their tail drops off, and they attain their perfect 

 orm. Frogs are harmless animals. They feed princi- 

 ally on small snails, flies, spiders, ants, and other 

 nsects; but they never attempt to seize upon anything 

 vhich has not motion. The root of their tongue is 

 ituated in the fore part of their mouth, and, when at 

 est, lies with the point towards the throat. In seizing 

 heir prey, they suddenly dart it out, and secure this 

 pon its broad and glutinous extremity. These Frogs 



are said to attain their full size in about five years, and 

 live to about thrice that period. The croaking of 



Frogs may be heard, in a still night, to a great distance ; 



and in fenny countries, the noise they make is exces- 



