178 



VEETEBRATES. 



for comparison with the catfish. Compare especially 



.vith regard to the following points : 



1. The shape of its body. 



2. The character of its body covering. 



3. The shape of its mouth. 



4. The number and position of bones bearing teeth. 



5. The character of the gills and gill rakers. 



6. The character of the dorsaland pectoral fins. 



7. The shape and attachments of the air bladder. 



8. The foremost vertebrae of the spinal column, etc. 



THE FROG. 



(Eana.) 



Haunts and Habits. In the springtime the musical 

 efforts of this animal are a sufficient guide to the locali- 



ties to be searched for 

 specimens. In warm 

 weather small frogs 

 will be flushed from 

 their resting places in 

 .-A the grass by walk- 



---._ ing rapidly alongside 

 any brook or pon(L 



They may be cap- 

 tured in a stout net. 

 In cold weather live 

 specimens may be ob- 

 tained from dealers, 

 or dredged up from the bottom of ponds. Specimens 

 captured in autumn may be kept alive a long time 

 without food, if kept in a cool, damp place ; for in the 

 winter season they are normally inactive, and take no 

 food. 



COMMON FROG (Rana virescens). 



