iioith Lists of its rare Plants. 



339 



C'olumba sp. The exotic turtle- 

 dove. Several specimens 

 are kept in cages in the con- 

 servatory. 



Siren /acertina L. (Jig. 4:6.') 

 This lived in the stove for 

 more than six years; being 

 the only one ever kept alive, for any length of time, in Europe. This 

 reptile was sent from the marshes of South Carolina to Dr. Monro, in 

 1825, and was by him soon afterwards confided to the care of Dr. Neill, 

 who kept it in a box of water and moss in his green-house, till April, 

 1827; when it was put in a hot-house, and there became more lively, soon 

 beginning to croak like a frog. It lived on earth-worms, but did not 

 care for food oftener than once in a week or ten days. On one occasion, it 

 remained for several hours together out of water ; and it has often been 

 observed to remain for several hours at a time under water, being truly 

 amphibious, and capable of breathing either by means of external branchiae 

 or internal lungs. ( See Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. i. p. 17 1 .) 



Rkna arborea L., the tree, or green, 

 frog (Jig. 47.), is green above and 

 whitish beneath, with a yellow curved 

 line on the side. In elegance and 

 activity, it is superior to every other 

 European species. It is a native 

 of the south of Germany and of 

 France ; in which country it resides 

 in the woods, and mounts the trees 

 in quest of insects, which it ap- 

 proaches on its belly, in the same 

 manner as a cat approaches a mouse, 

 and, at length, seizes it with an elastic 

 and instantaneous spring. It is par- 

 ticularly noisy on the approach of 

 rain. In winter, it takes up its abode 

 in the bottom of ponds or other 

 pieces of water, remaining till the 

 spring in a state of torpor. The noise of this frog is, by many, considered 

 musical ; and it is often kept in houses in Germany, both as a curiosity and 

 as a weather guide. When kept in a house, it is placed in a crystal jar, 

 6 in. or 8 in. in diameter, and 1 ft. or 18 in. high, the bottom of which is 

 covered to the depth of 2 in. to 3 in. with water. In the jar is placed a 

 small ladder, or a rod of wood, leaning to one side, up which the animal 

 mounts, and remains near the top, when the weather is fine; while, on 

 the appi'oach of rain or thunder, it descends to the bottom, utters a 

 peculiarly shrill cry, and plunges up and down in the water. To prevent 

 it from getting out, and, at the same time, to admit air, the jar is covered 

 with gauze. [We brought a frog of this species from Carlsruhe, in 1828, 

 which remained in a glass jar, covered with gauze at the top, living on flies, 

 till the spring of 1832, when it died.] 



Rkna BMo L., the toad, is kept in the frames, pits, and stoves, for destroying 

 ants, which the toad devours greedily ; and, also, for keeping under wood- 

 lice, and other insects, and slugs and worms. The common frog is en- 

 couraged for the same purpose. 

 Testudo grae'ca L., the Greek, or common, tortoise, (^g. 48.) This species 

 abounds in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, especially in 

 Greece, where it is much used as food. In September or October it buries 

 itself under the soil, where it remains torpid till February, when it reappears. 

 In June it lays its eggs, in holes exposed to the full beaitis of the sun, by 



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