* 



THE FROG. 313 



we are certain, that a very little food is capable of sufficing 

 its necessities. 



Nor is the Frog less tenacious of life. It will live and 

 jump about several hours after its head has been cut off. 

 It will continue active, though all its bowels are taken out; 

 and it can live some days though entirely stripped of its 

 skin. This cruel trick, which is chiefly practised among 

 school-boys, of skinning Frogs, an operation which is done 

 in an instant, seems for some hours no way to abate their 

 vigor. I am assured that some of them get a new skin, 

 and recover, after this painful experiment. 



The croaking of Frogs is well known ; and, from thence, 

 in some countries, they are distinguished by the ludicrous 

 title of the Dutch Nightingales. Indeed, the aquatic Frogs 

 of Holland are loud beyond what one would imagine. 

 We could hardly conceive that an animal, not bigger than 

 one's fist, should be able to send forth a note that is heard 

 at three miles' distance ; yet such is actually the case. 

 The large water Frogs have a note as loud as the bellow- 

 ing of a bull ; and, for this purpose, puff up the cheeks to 

 a surprising magnitude. Of all Frogs, however, the male 

 only croaks ; the female is silent, and the voice in the 

 other seems to be the call to courtship. It is certain, that 

 at these times when they couple, the loudness of their 

 croaking is in some places very troublesome ; for then the 

 uhole lake seems vocal; and a thousand dissonant notes 

 perfectly stun the neighborhood. At other times, also, be- 

 fore wet weather, their voices are in full exertion ; they 

 are then heard with unceasing assiduity, sending forth 

 their call, and welcoming the approaches of their favorite 

 moisture. No weather-glass was ever so true as a Frog in 

 foretelling an approaching change; and, in fact, the Ger- 

 man surgeon mentioned above, kept his Frog for that pur- 

 pose. It was always heard to croak at the approach of 

 wet weather ; but was as mute as a fish when it threaten- 

 ed a continuance of fair. This may probably serve to ex- 



