388 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



And now let us interview certain little creatures that 

 are very aj^t to intrude into Florida homes, especially new 

 houses, built upon land recently cleared ; such very little 

 fellows, and innocent of all evil either in thought or deed, 

 yet often creating the Avildest confusion amidst the femi- 

 nine population. 



We ought to know all about it, for we have been hastily 

 summoned time and again, even during this present writing, 

 in a most energetic manner, to the rescue of our more nerv- 

 ous home companions : 



' ' Oh ! oh ! here's one of those dreadful little frogs ! Do 

 come and catch it! It Avill jump on me; come quick!" 

 And then, with towel, or some similar weapon, in hand, 

 we run, ready to pounce on the unconscious intruder as he 

 hops serenely over the floor, or runs up the wall or window- 

 curtains, intent upon one thought only, the sole object of 

 his visit, which is to hunt for his dinner of flies and other 

 small insects. 



" A frog?" Aye, even so ; a very mite of a frog, with 

 a beautiful bright green coat, the brightest of bright eyes, 

 the quickest of red tongues, and the most earnest resolve 

 to catch flies and not be caught himself *' on the fly." 



He intends no harm, and he does none, except to the 

 nerves of the new-comer who does not understand the per- 

 fect innocence of his character and intentions, or to the 

 timid sisters who can never get used to such terrible mon- 

 sters as roaches, bugs, frogs, or lizards. 



There is nothing repulsive about his looks either ; he is 

 one of the daintiest, prettiest little frogs to be seen any 

 where; sometimes his bright green coat is spotted with 

 olive, and a grayish yellow streak runs from the eyes to- 

 ward the sides until it merges in the general green color 

 of his coat ; he wears a very white shirt-bosom, edged with 

 black, and a beautiful crimson brooch under his chin, whose 



