H4 BRITISH REPTILES 
snake ; the young of the first come into the world 
very much alive, the second deposits a long chain of 
eggs in some heap of decayed vegetable matter, and 
these are hatched out by the heat generated there. 
The reason for this difference we really know nothing 
about. 
The common frog, Rana aquatica, we have seen 
in great variety, of all shades and all sizes, in the 
water and out of it, near to water, and again a long 
way from it. 
As there are all kinds and conditions of men, 
so there are all sorts of frogs ; even in common frogs 
there is as much difference as there is in common 
humanity. Lean frogs we find, also plump frogs, 
dirty frogs, and bright handsome frogs ; weather 
affects them greatly, in the same way that it does 
some of us at times. I remember when the frog 
family had a rough time of it at the hands of 
all school-boys ; but that is a thing of the past, at 
least, I hope so. He is very much appreciated 
by animals, birds, fish, and reptiles, so that his race 
need be a numerous one. Man himself pays him 
some attention, for he eats his hind legs as a choice 
morsel. The edible frog proper, which we shall 
notice presently, does not always supply the spring- 
chicken flavoured hind-quarters. 
