THE COMMON FEOG. 95 



the water, and sends forth a pleasing chirp : when several 

 are together they sing in harmony on different notes. * 



Probably the American frogs are really more 

 musical than ours, as they have to compensate 

 much for the loss of singing-birds, or at least 

 melodious ones. The "Old Bushman" says that 

 in Sweden a little frog emits during the pairing 

 season a note like the ringing of bells, and as 

 this sound proceeds from the depth of the water, 

 it appears to come from a long distance, although 

 the frog may be within a few fathoms. 



During the winter these reptiles, in common 

 with others of their race, proceed to winter quar- 

 ters, hiding themselves in holes of the ground, 

 but more commonly buried in mud congregated 

 together in considerable companies. With the 

 early spring they awake from their torpidity, 

 break up their association, commence their career 

 of love, and seek fitting localities for the deposi- 

 tion of ova and development of their young. In 

 and about ditches and swamps, bog and fen, 

 treacherous to human feet, 



By night or by day, were you there about, 



You might see them creep in or see them creep out. 



Dr. Hermann Masius says of the Frog, he may 

 be looked upon as a character : in popular 

 stories, fairy tales, and poesy he plays no unim- 



* Darwin's " Journal of Eesearches," p. 29. 



