ORDER BATRACHIA. 425 



(Bor'v rfa.x^:cx.v e%wv,) The French word, grenouille, does ap- 

 pear to be an onomatopeia. Our word frog is of Teutonic 

 growth, and also sounds like onomatopeia. 



The muzzle of the frogs terminates more in a point than 

 that of the toads. The nostrils are visible at its summit. 

 The teeth are very small, and the eyes are large and brilliant, 

 and surrounded with a circle of gold. The ears are placed 

 behind them, and covered by a membrane, &c. 



The frogs, when in a state of repose on the ground, carry 

 the head very high, and their hind legs are then doubly 

 folded on themselves, forming an angle of forty -five degrees, 

 with the length of their body. Their muscles are consider- 

 able in relation to their bulk, and most peculiarly elastic. 

 The leaps which they take to avoid real or supposed danger, 

 for they are timid beyond measure, sometimes extend several 

 feet. Their ordinary mode of progression is likewise by 

 leaps, but not so much elongated. When they are taken by 

 the hind feet, their body curves rapidly, and they give 

 themselves such strong and repeated shocks, that one is fre- 

 quently obliged to let them go. The glutinous matter with 

 which their skin is varnished, favours considerably, in such 

 cases, the action of their muscles, and causes their feet to slip 

 through one's fingers. 



As the organization of these reptiles is exceedingly curious, 

 we shall make a few observations respecting it, in addition to 

 the text of Cuvier. 



The cranium of the frog is nearly prismatic, flatted above, 

 and widened behind. It is less rounded than in the toad. 

 The frontal bones are elongated rectangularly, and fill the 

 interval of the orbits. 



With the exception of the symphysis of the chin, and of the 

 intermaxillary bones, which are free in all parts, all the bones 

 of the cranium and face are totally united by synostosis in 

 the adult individuals. 



