THE FROZEN POND. 



among the sunk leaves of water-weeds ; and 

 soon the tadpoles emerge from their jelly- 

 like eggs, and swarm at the edge in a 

 seething black mass of bustling and jostling 

 life. Then, as the pond gets low, and 

 breathing becomes difficult, they proceed by 

 degrees to drop their gills, and develop the 

 rudimentary swim-bladder into a pair of 

 true lungs. Soon four weak little legs with 

 sprawling fingers bud out at their sides ; 

 and, hi, presto ! they hop or crawl ashore 

 as full-fledged air-breathers. At this point 

 grave differences appear between them. 

 The newts retain their tails through life, 

 but the more advanced frogs drop or absorb 

 theirs, and assume the shape of thorough- 

 going land animals. In winter, however, 

 the frogs return once more to the pond, and 

 bury themselves in the oozy mud at the 

 bottom, often huddled together in close- 

 packed groups, for warmth and company. 

 At first sight you might think they would 

 be warmer on dry land ; but this is not so, 



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