216 ANIMAL SKETCHES. CHAP. 



one of the advantages Nature gives to her light weights. 

 Of course there must be muscular development as well. 

 And in this respect the frog has a hind limb to be proud 

 of. What a splendid thigh ! What an admirably rounded 

 calf! Note too the great length of the foot to give 

 additional leverage. 



And then how beautifully the foot is webbed, enabling 

 the frog to swim as well as he can leap. Have you never 

 watched with pleasure the pleasure that always arises 

 from seeing a thing really well done a frog as he skims 

 along over the surface of a pond and then, ducking his 

 head, dives down with long and powerful strokes ? I can 

 understand a want of appreciation for a toad. I have 

 never seen a toad do anything really well. He can't 

 jump a bit well; when he walks it is an awkward 

 waddle; and he's a lazy and half-hearted swimmer. A 

 toad doesn't seem to take a real pride in anything. But 

 your frog leaps and swims like an athlete ; he does these 

 things well, and he seems to know it and to be proud of 

 it. And quite right too ! I don't believe in a fellow not 

 being proud of doing things well. 



No ! I never could get really fond of a toad. It has a 

 splendid eye I'll admit. But this may in some cases be a 

 dangerous treasure to some people, toads among the num- 

 ber. A correspondent of Mr. Pennant's tells of a toad 

 which was made a pet of for thirty-six years. It always 

 came out of its hole of an evening when a candle was 

 brought, and looked up as if expecting to be carried into 

 the house. There it was fed on maggots. Even the 

 ladies overcame their horror and begged to see the toad 

 fed. At last the toad met its death at the hands, or 

 rather the beak, of a tame raven. Dear old Gilbert 

 White, of Selborne, says the raven pecked out the poor 

 creature's eyes. That is why I say that in some cases a 



