172 



THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



upon the insect, which, being caught by the adhesive matter 

 upon it, is instantly drawn into the mouth by the sudden 

 return of the tongue to its former position, and is then 

 swallowed." 



The frog hibernates in the winder, generally in the mud 

 at the bottom of the water. Here they may be found 

 congregated in masses so closely together as to form a 

 continuous heap, thus preserving an equable temperature 

 and securing themselves from external injury. In the 

 spring they separate and emerge, and at once proceed to 

 the reproduction of their species. At this time a peculiar 



THE FROG. 



temporary development of a warty protuberance or knob 

 takes place on the thumbs for the purpose of close adhesion ; 

 and so powerful is this instinct of adhesion, that instances 

 have been known of frogs attaching themselves to fish, 

 generally to the eyes, without the possibility of the fish 

 shaking the reptile off. In the " Complete Angler " Walton 

 gives an example of this, in Chapter VIII., fourth day ; and 

 although Dubravius, a bishop of Bohemia; who wrote a 

 book of " Fish and Fishponds," saw what happened with 

 his own eyes, it is scarcely credible. Pennant, in his 

 " Zoology," vol. iv. p. 10, says : " As frogs adhere closely 



