THE FROG. 311 



it is obliged to quit its native element, and seek for food 

 upon land, where it lives by hunting worms, and taking 

 insects by surprise. At first, being feeble and unable to 

 bear the warmth of the sun, it hides among bushes and 

 under stones ; but when a shower cornes to refresh the 

 earth, then the whole multitude are seen to quit their re- 

 treats, in order to enjoy the grateful humidity. Upon many 

 occasions the ground is seen perfectly blackened with their 

 numbers : some hunting for prey, and some seeking secure 

 lurking places. From the myriads that offer on such occa- 

 sions, some have been induced to think that these animals 

 were generated in the clouds, and thus showered down on 

 the earth. But had they like Derham, traced them to the 

 next pool, they would have found out a better solution for 

 the difficulty. 



The Frog lives, for the most part, out of the water ; but 

 when the cold nights begin to set it, it returns to its native 

 element, always choosing stagnant waters, where it can 

 lie without danger concealed at the bottom. In this man- 

 ner it continues torpid, or with but very little motion, all 

 the winter : like the rest of the dormant race, it requires 

 no food ; and the circulation is slowly carried on without 

 any assistance from the air. 



It is at the approach of spring that all these animals are 

 roused from a state of slumber to a state of enjoyment. A 

 short time after they rise from the bottom they begin to 

 pair, while those that are as yet too young, come upon land 

 before the rest. For this reason, while the old ones con- 

 tinue concealed in the beginning of spring, the small ones 

 are more frequently seen ; the former remaining in the 

 lake to propagate, while the latter are not yet arrived at a 

 state of maturity. 



The difference of sexes, which was mentioned above, 

 is not perceivable in these animals, until they have arrived 

 at their fourth year; nor do they begin to propagate, till 

 they have completed that period. By comparing their 



