406 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Class IV. . . AMPHIBIA. (Gr. 'Afjupipioc, leading a double life, i.e. on 



land and on water.) 



Order I. . . BATRACHIA.(&Y. Ba'rpo^of, a Frog.) 

 Sub-order I. SALIENTIA. (Lat. Leaping animals.) 



RAXA. (Lat, a Frog.) 



Temporaria (Lat. temporary), the Common Frog. 



The appearance and habits of the FROG and the TOAD are 

 so familiar as to require but little description. A short ac- 

 count, however, is necessary, of the peculiarities common to 

 both Frogs and Toads. 



In the early stage of their existence, these animals are 

 termed tadpoles. They at first appear to be nothing but head 

 and tail, but after several days have passed, four legs are ob- 

 served to become developed. These rapidly increase, and the 

 little creature closely resembles a small eft. In due time, 

 however, the tail is lost, and the creature becomes a perfect 

 frog. Another important change also takes place. In its tad- 

 pole state the creature was essentially a water animal, but after 

 its change has taken place it is not able to exist under water 

 for any great length of time, and is forced to come to the sur- 

 face to breathe. 



The tongue of the Frog is curiously fixed almost at the 



