NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Hoarse voice Tenacious of life Edible frog. 



These animals cast their skins at certain pe- 

 riods. They arrive at full growth in about five 

 years, and are supposed to live to twelve or fif- 

 teen. Their voice is hoarse and unpleasant, which 

 in some countries has procured them the ludi- 

 crous title of Dutch nightingales ; and they are 

 so tenacious of life as to survive even the loss of 

 their head for several hours. The hind legs of 

 the common frog are sometimes eaten, and the 

 fore-legs and livers often form an ingredient in 

 the Continental soups. 



The edible frog, however, which is consider- 

 ably larger than the common species, is in great- 

 er request for food, being whiter, and altogether 

 more palatable. Its color is an olive green, dis- 

 tinctly marked with black patches on the back, 

 and on its limbs with transverse bars of the same. 

 From the tip of the nose three distinct stripes of 

 pale yellow extend to the extremity of the body, 

 the middle one slightly depressed, and the lateral 

 ones considerably elevated. The under parts are 

 of a pale whitish color tinged with green, and 

 marked with irregular brown spots. It is by 

 some called the green frog, and though not 

 common in England, is found in great plenty in 

 Italy, France, and Germany. 



This species seldom deposits its spawn before 

 the month of June. During this season the male 

 is said to croak so loud as to be heard to a great 

 distance. In some particular places, where these 



