3°4 



THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



water only, has become a frog, which can live either in the water 

 or on land. 



The frog catches a fly in a very curious way. Its tongue, 

 instead of being formed like ours, is reversed, as it were, with the 

 root just inside the lips, and the tip down the throat. This tongue 



Frog 



is very sticky, like that of the night-jar, so that if it once touches 

 an insect it holds it quite firmly. 



When the frog sees a fly within reach, it takes careful aim, 

 darts out its tongue, just touches its victim with it, and draws it 

 back. The fly sticks to the tongue, and is carried into the frog's 

 mouth; and so quickly is it caught and swallowed that you can 

 hjirdly see the operation. 



Frogs are very useful to us, for they destroy all kinds of 

 mischievous insects. Good gardeners, therefore, are very glad 

 to have them in the garden, and will sometimes even purchase 

 them if they do not find a sufficient number there already. 



Most of the frogs and toads are nocturnal in habit, as they 

 cannot bear dry air; a few exist in shrubs and trees, but always in 

 moist situations. 



THE TOADS (Family BUFONID^) 



Toads vary from the typical frog so far as to be placed in a 

 family by themselves. Their differences to the common observer 



