Class III. COMMON FROG. 13 



While in a tadpole state, it is entirely a water 

 animal ; the work of foecundation is performed 

 in that element, as may be seen in every pond 

 during spring ; when the female remains op- 

 pressed by the male for a number of days. The Genera- 

 work of propagation is extremely singular, it 

 being certain that the frog has not a penis in- 

 trans. There appears a strong analogy in this 

 case between a certain class of the vegetable 

 kingdom and these animals ; for it is well known, 

 that when the female frog deposits its spawn, 

 the male instantaneously inpregnates it with 

 what we may call a farina fcecundans, in the 

 same manner as the male palm tree conveys 

 fructification to the flowers of the female, which 

 would otherwise be barren. * 



As soon as the frogs are released from their 

 tadpole state, they immediately retire to land ; 

 and if the weather has been hot, and there fall 

 any refreshing showers, the ground for a con- 

 siderable space becomes perfectly blackened by 

 myriads of these animalcules, seeking for some 

 secure lurking places. Some philosophers f not 

 giving themselves time to examine into this phe- 

 nomenon, imagined them to have been generated 



* Shaw's Travels, 224. Hasselquisi Trav. Engl. Ed.4l6. 

 t Rondeletius, 2l6. TFormii Mus. 327. 



