92 OUR EEPTILES. 



" frogs." It is very usual for persons living in 

 towns to patronize tadpoles in their aquaria ; but 

 so many are their misfortunes that a colony of 

 town-bred frogs seldom gladdens the eyes of a 

 Cockney. The tadpoles have a cannibal pro- 

 pensity to kill and eat each other, as their limbs 

 begin to bud. " I placed in a large glass globe 

 of water several tadpoles/' says Mr. Bell, "more 

 or less nearly approaching their final change, and 

 I observed that almost as soon as one had ac- 

 quired limbs it was found dead at the bottom of 

 the water, and the remaining tadpoles feeding 

 upon it. This took place with all of them suc- 

 cessively excepting the last; which lived on to 

 complete its change, and for a considerable time 

 afterwards." Whilst in the earlier stages, at 

 least, of their existence, the green confervoid vege- 

 table deposit of the tank appears to be the legiti- 

 mate food of the tadpole, seasoned perhaps with a 

 small quantity of minute animal life. The Frog is 

 almost entirely insectivorous. Its favourite food 

 consists of all kinds of minute insects, such as 

 the little green plant-lice, which are the pest of 

 gardeners, other larger insects, small slugs, and 

 such forms of animal life. This habit ought to 

 procure for frogs, not only the protection, but 

 the fostering care of gardeners and all cultivators 

 of the soil. How much less cause would they 

 have to complain of insect enemies, if they would 



