188 Miscellanies. 



The history of the Rana temporaria, common frog, is very interest- 

 ing; the changes which take place in its development from the ovvm 

 to the perfect animal, are pointed out with a clearness which shows 

 how well they are understood by the describer. In a pleasing anecdote, 

 our author proves its capability of being tamed; he states that his friend, 

 Dr. William Roots, of Kingston, informed him, " that he was in pos- 

 session, for several years, of a frog in a perfect state of domestication. 

 It appears that the lower offices of his house were what is commonly 

 called under-ground, on the banks of the Thames. That this little 

 reptile accidentally appeared to his servants, occasionally issuing from 

 a hole in the skirting of the kitchen, and that during the first year of 

 his sojourn, he constantly withdrew upon their approach ; but from 

 their showing him kindness, and offering him such food as they thought 

 he could partake of, he gradually acquired habits of familiarity and 

 friendship ; and during the following three years, he regularly came 

 out every day, and particularly at the hour of raeal-tirae, and partook 

 of the food which the servants gave him. But one of the most re- 

 markable features in his artificial state of existence, was his strong 

 partiality for warmth, as during the winter seasons, he regularly (and 

 contrary to the cold-blooded tendency of his nature) came out of his 

 hole in the evening, and directly made for the hearth in front of a 

 good kitchen fire, where he would continue to bask and enjoy himself 

 until the family retired to rest. 



"There happened to be at the same time a favorite old domestic 

 cat, and a sort of intimacy or attachment existed between these two 

 incongruous inmates ; the frog frequently nestling under the warm 

 fur of the cat, whilst the cat appeared extremely jealous of interrupt- 

 ing the comforts and convenience of the frog. This curious scene 

 was often witnessed by many besides the family." 



The manner in which the Bufo vulgaris, common toad, sheds its 

 cuticle, is described very instructively. " Having often found, among 

 several toads which I was then keeping for the purpose of observing 

 their habits, some of brighter colors than usual, and with the surface 

 moist and very smooth, I had supposed that this appearance might 

 have depended upon the state of the animal's health, or the influence 

 of some peculiarity in one or the other of its functions ; on watching 

 carefully, however, I one day observed a large one, the skin of which 

 was particularly dry and dull in its colors, with a bright streak down 

 the medial line of the back ; and on examining further, I discovered 

 a corresponding line along the belly. This proved to arise from an 

 entire slit in the old cuticle, which exposed to view the new and bright- 

 er skin underneath. Finding, therefore, what was about to happen, 

 I watched the whole detail of this curious process. I soon observed 



