THE BANDED FROG. 157 



the body and head being at the same time much altered. In a short time they entirely dis- 

 appear, being drawn into the cavity of the chest, and guarded externally by a kind of gill 

 cover. This is is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. 



Other changes are taking place meanwhile. Just behind the head two little projections 

 appear through the skin, which soon develop into legs, which, however, are not at all employed 

 for progression, as the tadpole wriggles its way through the water with that quick undulation 

 of the flat tail which is so familiar to us all. The creature then bears the appearance repre- 

 sented in Fig. 1(>. 



Presently another pair of legs make their appearance in front, the tail is gradually 

 absorbed into the body — not falling off, according to the popular belief — the branekire vanish, 

 and the lungs are developed. Figs. 11 and 12 represent a young Frog in a state absorbing 

 the tail. 



The internal changes are as marvellous as the external. AVhen first hatched, the young 

 tadpole is to all intents and purposes a fish, has fish-like bones, fish-like gills, and a heart 

 composed of only two chambers, one auricle and one ventricle. But in proportion to its age, 

 these organs receive corresponding modifications, a third chamber for the heart being formed 

 by the expansion of one of the large arteries, the vessels of the branchiae becoming gradually 

 suppressed, and their place supplied by beautifully cellular lungs, formed by a development 

 of certain membranous sacs that appear to be analogous to the air-bladders of the fishes. 



The Frog, contracted as are its intellectual powers, is yet susceptible to human influence, 

 and can be tamed by kind treatment. Mr. Bell mentions a curious instance where one of these 

 creatures became so completely domesticated, that it used to come nightly from a hole in the 

 skirting-boards where it had established itself, partake of food offered to it by the members of 

 the family, and even jump upon the hearth-rug in winter in order to enjoy the w T armth of the 

 fire. A favorite cat, which inhabited the same house, took a strange fancy to the Frog, and 

 these seemingly incongruous companions were to be constantly seen sitting together on the 

 hearth-rug, the Frog nestling under the soft warm fur of the cat. The Frog was, however, 

 more than a year an inmate of the house before it became domesticated, and for many months 

 would retreat to its stronghold when approached. 



Stories of so-called "showers of Frogs" are often seen in the papers, and as a general 

 rule are little to be credited, the solution of the supposed phenomenon being merely that a 

 shower of rain has induced the creatures to come simultaneously from their retreats. There 

 are, however, instances where credible spectators have seen them fall, and in such cases the 

 little creatures were probably sucked up by a waterspout, or even by a brisk whirlwind, 

 together with the water in which they were disporting, carried away for some distance, and at 

 last dropped on the ground, as is sometimes the case with sticks, stones, and leaves, picked 

 up by a passing whirlwind. 



The general color of the common Frog is greenish-yellow, or brown, the same individual 

 often passing through all these colors in a few days. A long patch of blackish-brown or warm 

 brown is placed behind each of the eyes, and it is yellowish-white below. There are no teeth 

 in the lower jaw, and only a single row T of very tiny teeth in the upper jaw and on the palate. 

 The ordinary length of the Frog is rather less than three inches, and the total length of the 

 hinder leg is about four inches. 



A very pretty species of this genus is found in Southern Africa. This is the Banded 

 Frog, remarkable for the beautiful stripes which adorn its body, and the inordinate length of 

 the second toe of the hind-foot. 



This pretty creature is not very plentiful in any one locality, but is spread widely through- 

 out the Cape district and the whole of Southern Africa. It is very active, being a good leaper, 

 and brisk in all its movements. The second toe of the hind-foot is truly remarkable. The 

 wiiole of the toes are but slightly webbed, and project boldly beyond the connecting mem- 

 brane ; but the second toe is nearly as long as the whole body, which is longer than in the 

 generality of Frogs. The object of this exceeding development is not very clear. 



The general color of this species is wood-brown, upon which are drawn six dark streaks. 



