HISTORY OF VERMONT. 153 



posed to the air, animation soon appeared, and 

 they were found to be alive, and healthy. I 

 have this acceunt from General Clarke^ and a 

 Mr. Aloulton, v.ho were present when these 

 frogs were dug up. Upon viewing the spot, it 

 did not appear to me, that it had ever been 

 overflowed with water, but it abounded with 

 spi'iiigs. A more remarkable instance w^as at 

 Burlington, upon Onion river. In the year 

 1788, Samuel Lane^ Esq. wtiS digging a well 

 near his house. At the depth of twenty five or 

 thirty feet, from the surface of the earth, the 

 labourers threw out ^viLh their shovels, some- 

 thing which they suspected to be groundnuts, 

 or stones covered with earth. Upon examining 

 these appearances, they were found to be frogs ; 

 to wiiich, the eaith everv xvhere adhered. The 

 examination was then made of the earth, in the 

 well, where they ^vere digging. A large num- 

 ber of frogs were found covered w ith the earth, 

 and so numerous, that several of them were cut 

 in pieces by the spades of the workmen. Be- 

 ing exposed to the air, they soon became ac- 

 tive ; but unable to endure the direct rays of 

 the sun, the most of them perislied. This ac- 

 count is from Mr. Lane, and Mr. Lawrence^ 

 one of the v/orkmen, who were both present 

 when the frogs were dug up. From the depth 

 of earth, wdth which these irogs were covered, 

 it cannot be doubted but that they must have 

 been covered over in the earth, for many ages, 

 or rather centuries. The timber on the adja- 

 cent land had grown very large ; a pine tree not 

 far from the well, was more than tvvclve feet in 

 circumference. The appearances denote that 



