102 COMMON FROG. 



in such years as have been more than commonly 

 pestilential or unhealthy ; from whence he draws 

 the conclusion, that the appearance of such tailed 

 animals " argueth a great disposition to putrefac- 

 tion in the soile and aire" ! ! ! 



The Frog is extremely tenacious of life, and, 

 like other amphibia, will survive for a considerable 

 space the loss of many of its organs. If confined 

 entirely under water, it is still enabled to support 

 its existence for several days, as appears by Sir 

 Thomas Brown's experiment. " Because many 

 affirm, and some deliver, that, in regard it hath 

 lungs and breatheth, a Frog may be easily drown- 

 ed, though the reason be probable, I find not 

 the experiment answerable ; for fastening one 

 about a span under water, it lived almost six 

 days." On the contrary, it cannot so well dis- 

 pense with the want of water, and is unable to sur- 

 vive too long an exposure to a dry air and a hot 

 sun. It is, therefore, particularly careful to se- 

 cure a retreat where it may enjoy the benefit of 

 shade and a sufficient supply of moisture. It de- 

 lights, however, to bask occasionally, in a moderate 

 sunshine, and is unable to support severe cold. 



The figures on the annexed plate represent the 

 animal in all its appearances, from the spawn to 

 the completely formed Frog. The largest figure 

 represents a Frog of about four years old ; being 

 considerably smaller than the animal when arrived 

 at its fifth or sixth year. A plate representing a 

 Frog in an opened state is also added, in order to 

 shew the lungs and other viscera. 



