FROGS, TOADS, AND REPTILES. 255 



thing, the account is sufficiently credible for me to 

 quote : — 



I used to open the gate in the railings round the pond, and 

 call out * Tommy ' (the name I had given it), and the frog 

 would jump out from the bushes, dive into the water, and swim 

 across to me — get on my hand sometimes. "When I called 

 * Tommy,' it would nearly always come, whatever the time of 

 day, though it was only fed after breakfast ; but it seemed quite 

 tame. 



A very similar case is recorded by Mr. Pennent ' of 

 a toad which was domesticated for thirty-six years, and 

 knew all his friends. 



There is no doubt that frogs are able to appreciate 

 coming changes of weather, and to adapt their movements 

 in anticipation of them; but these facts show delicate 

 sensibility rather than remarkable intelligence. 



The following observation of Edward, the Scottish 

 naturalist, however, shows considerable powers of observa- 

 tion on the part of frogs. After describing the great 

 noise made by a number of frogs on a moonlight night, 

 he says :— 



Presently, when the whole of the vocalists had reached their 

 highest notes, they became hushed in an instant. I was amazed 

 at this, and began to wonder at the sudden termination of the 

 concert. But, looking about, I observed a brown owl drop 

 down, with the silence of death, on to the top of a low dyke 

 close by the orchestra.^ 



Rejptiles, 



Like the other cold-blooded Vertebrata, the reptiles are 

 characterised by a sluggishness and low development of 

 mental power which is to some extent proverbial. Never- 

 theless, that some members of the class present vivid 

 emotions is not to be questioned. Thus, to quote from 

 Thompson : — 



The common guana {Lacerta iguana) is naturally extremely 

 gentle and harmless. Its appearance, however, is much against 



* See Bingley, Animal Biography, vol. ii., p. 406. 



* Smiles, lAfe of Edwards, p. 124. 



