FOUND LINKS. . U3 



its outside gills after its legs had become developed, 

 the young frog would have exactly resembled that 

 curious creature, the Proteus found only in under- 

 ground caves in Central Europe or the curious 

 Axolotl of North America. But the ways of frog- 

 development do not permit it to remain in the guise 

 and likeness of its eft-cousins. Whilst its lungs have 

 been undergoing development, the heart has been 

 approaching that of the frog- type, which possesses a 

 three-chambered heart, as already observed. Then, 

 as development is completed, the tail shrivels. Grow- 

 ing " small by degrees," it is represented in the 

 adult frog by a mere rudiment ; and, as the oblitera- 

 tion of the tail takes place, the young frog leaves the 

 water and assumes the habits of a land-existence; 

 breathing by lungs alone in its adult state, and 

 exchanging, moreover, the vegetarian tastes of its 

 infancy, for an insect dietary in after-life. 



Now, the history of a frog is beset with questions 

 of interest for the earnest mind that studies even its 

 superficial features. Why, firstly, should a frog pass 

 through these changes at all? is a very pertinent 

 inquiry; and if this be capable of being answered, 

 why, secondly, should its development run in the 

 lines sketched out ? If we start with the idea that 

 animals and plants were simply " created " as we find 

 them and that view of matters is, of course, not yet 

 displaced in unscientific circles then, so far as I can 

 see, no explanation whatever of the frog's develop- 

 ment can be offered. " It is so, because it is so " 



i 



