COMMON FROG 



musician, the Thrush, inspires us with hope afresh and 

 captivates the ear. The majestic sweep of a Buzzard 

 in ever- widening circles, or the love-flight of the Skylark, 

 cannot fail to hold one entranced, but these creatures of 

 the lowly earth, especially if they glide, creep, crawl, 

 or hop, are looked upon with disdain. It is indeed a 

 poser for which I cannot suggest an explanation. The 

 Common Frog is well distributed, and there are few 



Skull of 2kull of 



Common Froj. Common Toad 



ponds, ditches, and other water courses in Spring that 

 are unfrequented by it. At other times it resorts to 

 lush meadows and shady places, though there is no 

 telling the curious situations in which it may be found. 

 In Winter it hibernates, seeking any retreat Hkely to serve 

 it best, and in Autumn it puts on a surplus supply of fat 

 to tide it over its fast. The males and females make their 

 vv^ay to their breeding quarters in March, sometimes 

 earlier or later according to the season, and after mating 

 the eggs are deposited in the water. At first they sink 

 D 39 



