SNAKES. 145 



gills, like those of the fish, came. As these disap- 

 peared, lungs took their place. When all the changes 

 are accomplished, the little frogs are ready, with the 

 first warm rain, to start out and try the land. Some- 

 times they hop a long distance from their watery nurs- 

 ery, and people who know nothing of their history, 

 think they have rained down. 



During winter, frogs lie buried in the mud-bottom 

 of a pond. Toads hide themselves in similar places, 

 or under stones. All have musical voices, which re- 

 peated attention will enable one to distinguish, so as to 

 tell which is that of the toad, which is the frog's, and 

 which is the tree-toad's. The bull-frog's double bass 

 no one can mistake. At the close of winter and frost, 

 the trilling notes from the ponds are a pleasant an- 

 nouncement of spring. 



33. SNAKES, 



THE dread of snakes is common to many animals, 

 to monkeys and to human beings. Children, and 

 monkeys raised in cages, on the first sight of snakes 

 shrink from them with terror. Pigs do not mind them. 

 This dread comes partly from ignorance about snakes, 

 and partly from the fact that some snakes inflict a 

 deadly wound. Pigs are not injured by poisonous 

 reptiles. 



If we knew more about these creatures they would 

 not excite our fears so much. Some people are almost 



L. C. 10. 



