TREE FROGS. 323 



is the effect of the removal of their brains ; how 

 they can manage without their eyes and without their 

 ears ; what results follow all kinds of local irritations, 

 chokings, poisonings, and mutilations the most varied. 

 And each of these experiments is repeated a hundred 

 thousand times. 



For the particulars about the turquoise Frog I 

 am indebted to the late Mr. E. Conolly, a Winter 

 visitor, whose ready wit and whose stoical endurance 

 of suffering are well known to the residents in Cimiez. 



There is one question which I do not think that 

 the men of science, with all their experiments "in the 

 cause of science," can answer ; one secret which we 

 cannot wrest from the wretched little animal by all 

 the torments of the laboratory, or by all the tortures 

 of Torquemada. How does he find his way to water 

 from any distance, and in spite of any obstacles ? 

 I have met the Tree Frog on a dry hill-side ; there 

 was no tank or cistern that I could see. But I am 

 certain that the little fellow knew where to have a 

 drink and a swim just as well as a thirsty Nicois 

 knows his way to the buvette. 



Darwin (" Voyage of Beagle ") found in South 

 America a little black toad with a vermilion belly. This 

 animal was crawling about during the heat of the day 

 on dry sand hills and arid plains where not a single 

 drop of water could be found. The great naturalist 

 supposed that this toad depends on the dew for its 

 moisture, which is probably absorbed by the skin ; for 

 these reptiles possess great powers of cutaneous 

 absorption. Thinking to give this little toad a great 

 treat, Darwin carried it to a pool of water ; but he 

 w r as surprised to find that the animal could not swim, 



2lA 



