39. FROGS AND TOADS. 



A LBERT stayed to watch the frogs. Soon, he 

 ** saw their cousin, the toad, come hopping 

 along. What a merry family they were ! 



The bullfrog would give a deep, gruff " Ker- 

 chog ! ker-chog ! " and the smaller frogs would 

 answer in pleasanter tones. 



Just then, his uncle came to the pond and said, 

 " Let me tell you something about the frogs and 

 toads : 



" Frogs spend most of their time on land now. 

 Frogs and toads breathe by taking air into their 

 mouths, and swallowing it. That is what they 

 are doing when you see their throats swelling out. 

 " They have another way of breathing. There 

 are little pores in their skin through which they 

 breathe. This is one reason 

 why they like moist, shady 

 places when the sun is shining. 

 The hot sun dries up the pores. 

 " The frog's skin is smooth, 

 but the toad is covered with 

 warts. People used to believe 



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