146 A PHILOSOPHER WITH NATURE 



alive after the operation, brainless frogs will catch 

 flies and even proceed to bury themselves in the 

 earth at the beginning of winter. A decapitated 

 frog will jump naturally ; if it be placed on a table 

 and if irritation be applied, it will scratch at the 

 place. If the irritation be continued the itching 

 apparently at last becomes intolerable and it will 

 make a most natural dive for the floor. The frog 

 in this respect is not peculiar. Dr. W. H. Thomson 

 tells an amusing story of how when fishing out west 

 in America the bait was taken by a mud turtle 

 which swallowed the hook. Being unable to get the 

 hook free the angler hung the turtle over a branch 

 and sawed the head off with a pocket-knife. Down 

 dropped the turtle's headless body, when to Dr. 

 Thomson's astonishment it straightway walked some 

 two yards right into the water and dived into the 

 deep pool just as if the creature's brain had still 

 been directing it. 



The frog very nearly resembles the toad in many 

 of its habits and instincts. In one respect, however, 

 it seems to differ considerably, as any one may readily 

 prove. A toad will survive a long period, certainly 

 more than a year, buried without food and almost 

 without air. The frog soon dies in similar circum- 

 stances. It used to be a matter of mystery as to 

 how frogs after hibernation came forth in the spring 

 well nourished and ready to spawn. The explan- 

 tion is now fairly evident. In the autumn, frogs 

 consume great quantities of food, earthworms and 

 snails being their principal prey. Frogs and all their 

 kind possess internal organs which are technically 

 known as fat-bodies. These become richly stored 

 with globules of fat and oil. Their function is now 



