xv. FROGGIES. 221 



means of chin-suckers. As it grows its body becomes 

 rounded and its tail more developed, and at the sides and 

 back of its head there are little tufted plumes or gills. 

 For a while its little mouth does not open into its little 

 stomach; rather an awkward state of things one would 

 think. But presently this defect in its constitution is 

 rectified, and it becomes a greedy little fellow, browsing 

 by means of horny jaws on decaying water-weeds and 

 other vegetable matter. He is not, however, a strict 

 vegetarian, and will eat with apparent relish a dead 

 comrade. Presently the plume-like gills disappear : but 

 other gills are formed, somewhat resembling those of 

 fishes, but hidden beneath flaps of skin. Water taken in 

 at the mouth passes over these gills and out at a hole on 

 the under surface and to the left side of the tadpole. And 

 so the creature breathes, taking up the life-giving oxygen 

 which is dissolved in the water. But presently the little 

 taddies will come to the surface and begin to breathe air 

 by means of their lungs. 



Every one knows the appearance of these tadpoles with 

 their big heads and round bodies (not a bit of neck 

 between them) and thin, long, flat tails. Hind-legs may 

 be seen in various stages of growth in the older taddies. 

 But there seem to be no front-legs till the little creature 

 turns into a frog. The fact is that the fore-legs are there 

 all the time, being formed quite as early as the hind-legs, 

 only they are hidden beneath the skin where the neck 

 ought to be. 



The last event in this wonderful series of changes is 

 the disappearance of the tail. People will tell you that 

 the tails drop off. But I am quite sure that you won't 

 find any of these lost tails. If you should find a stray 

 tail or two at the bottom of your vase, depend upon it 

 they belonged to some poor unfortunates whose juicy little 



