62 VERTEBRATA. REPTILIA. 



Rana,* the Frog. 



This and the two following genera have, when 

 arrived at the adult state, four perfectly formed 

 limbs, but no tail. The head is large and flattened, 

 with a very wide mouth, in which there is a soft 

 tongue attached to the edges of the jaws, and fold- 

 ing inwards. There are four toes to the fore feet 

 and five to the hind : the body is short and squat ; 

 the ribs are wanting. They do not breathe as higher 

 animals do, but swallow air by means of the muscles 

 of the throat, and expire it by contracting the abdo- 

 men. The eggs are inclosed in a glutinous slime, 

 and laid in the water, in which, as observed above, 

 they pass their tadpole state, and beneath which 

 the adults pass their winters in a state of torpidity. 

 The true Frogs have the hind legs and feet very 

 long, and thus fitted for those powerful and agile 

 leaps, for which they are so distinguished : they are 

 efficient aids in swimming, being struck out as a 

 man uses his legs in a similar action. The upper 

 jaw and palate are furnished with small teeth. Their 

 voices are loud and harsh, sometimes a hoarse croak, 

 at others a shrill ringing shriek of great volume. 



The nimble and useful, and, in spite of prejudice, 

 pretty little Frog of our own marshes, (R. Tern- 

 poraria,) is known to every child. Of its youthful 

 form, so different from the adult, and of its con- 

 sequent transformations, we have already spoken ; 

 and every one who will take the trouble to keep a 



* Its Latin name. 



