64 VERTEBRATA. REPTILIA. 



generally waits for a short interval, acting the pointer, 

 as it were, between each attack. Having succeeded 

 at last in getting the worm into his mouth, if it be a 

 large one he is unable to swallow it immediately and 

 all at once ; and the portion of the worm which yet 

 remains unswallowed and extends out of the mouth 

 of its destroyer, of course writhes about, and strug- 

 gles with a tortuous motion. With much, but some- 

 what grotesque dexterity, the Frog then employs 

 his two fore feet, shoving and bandying the worm 

 first with the one and then with the other, in order 

 to keep it as nearly as may be in the centre of his 

 mouth till the whole is swallowed."* 



A still more interesting trait in the character of 

 this despised reptile is recorded by Mr. Bell, of one 

 in the possession of a friend of his for several years 

 "in a perfect state of domestication. It appears 

 that the lower offices of his house were underground 

 on the banks of the Thames ; that this little rep- 

 tile accidentally appeared to his servants, occasion- 

 ally issuing from a hole in the skirting of the 

 kitchen ; and that during the first year of his so- 

 journ, he constantly withdrew upon their approach, 

 but from their shewing him kindness, and offering 

 him such food as they thought he could partake of, 

 he gradually acquired habits of familiarity and friend- 

 ship ; and during the following three years he regu- 

 larly came out every day, and particularly at the 

 hour of meal-time, and partook of the food which 

 the servants gave him. But one of the most remark- 

 able features in his artificial state of existence, was 

 * London's Mag. N. H. iii. p. 326. 



