112 REPTILIA—FROG. 
countries round Hudson’s Bay, it is often found frozen hard, in which state 
it is as brittle as glass; yet, by wrapping it in warm skins, and exposing it 
to a slow fire, it will return to life. 
The difference of sexes, which was mentioned above, is not perceivable 
in these animals, until they have arrived at their fourth year; nor do they 
begin to propagate, till they have completed that period. By comparing 
their slow growth with their other habitudes, it would appear, that they live 
about twelve years; but having so many enemies, both »y land and water, 
it is probable that few of them arrive at the end of their term. 
Frogs live upon insects of all kinds; but they never eat any, unless they 
have motion. They continue fixed and immoveable till their prey appears ; 
and just when it comes sufficiently near, they jump forward with great agili- 
ty, dart out their tongues, and seize it with certainty. The tongue in this 
animal, as in the toad, lizard, and serpent, is extremely long, and formed in 
such a manner that it swallows the point down its throat; so that a length 
of tongue is thus drawn out, like a sword from its scabbard, to assail its 
prey. This tongue is furnished with a glutinous substance; and whatever 
smsect it touches infallibly adheres, and 1s thus held fast till it is drawn into 
the mouth. 
The croaking of frogs is well known, whence in some countries they are 
distinguished by the ludicrous title of Dutch nightingales. The large water 
or bull frogs of the northern countries have a note as loud as the bellowing 
of a bull; and, for this purpose, puff up the cheeks to a surprising magni- 
tude. Of all frogs, however, the male only croaks; the female is silent; 
before wet weather, their voices are in full exertion; they are then heard 
with unceasing assiduity, sending forth their call, and welcoming the ap- 
proaches of their favorite moisture. No weather-glass was ever so true as 
a frog, in foretelling an approaching change. Vhis may probably serve te 
explain an opinion which some entertain, that there is a month in the year, 
called Paddock Moon, in which the frogs never croak: the whole seems to 
be no more than that, in the hot season, when the moisture is dried away, 
and consequently, when these animals neither enjoy the quantity of health 
nor food that at other times they are supplied with, they show by their silence 
how much they are displeased with the weather. 
As frogs adhere closely to the backs of their own species, so it has been 
round, by repeated experience, they will also adhere to the backs of fishes. 
Few that have ponds, but know that these animals will stick to the backs of 
carp, and fix their fingers in the corner of each eye. In this manner thev 
are often caight together; the carp blinded, and wasted away. 
