64 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Particulars of some tamed ones. 



One was kept by a surgeon in Germany for 

 nearly eight years. He had it in a glass vessel 

 covered with a net, and during the summer he 

 fed it with flies ; but in winter it probably did 

 not eat at all, as only a few insects with grass 

 and moistened hay were put to it. During this 

 season it was very lean and emaciated, but when 

 the ensuing summer brought flies, it recovered 

 its fat. However, it pined away by degrees in 

 the eighth winter, on account, as supposed, of 

 no insects whatever being to be had. 



Tree frogs have been also kept by Dr. Town- 

 son, who had them in a window, and appropri- 

 ated to their use a bowl of water, in which they 

 lived. They soon grew quite tame; and to two 

 that he had for a considerable length of time, 

 and were particular favorites, the doctor gave 

 the names of Damon and Musidora. In the 

 evening they seldom failed to go into the water, 

 unless the weather was cold and damp, in which 

 case they would sometimes remain out a couple 

 of days. When they were out of the water, if a 

 few drops were thrown upon the board, they 

 always applied their bodies as close to it as they 

 could ; and from this absorption through the 

 skin, though they were flaccid before, they soon 

 again appeared plump. A tree frog that had not 

 been in the water during the night was weighed, 

 and then immersed; after it had remained about 

 half an hour in the bowl it came out, and was 



