CHAPTER XVIII 



FROGS AND TOADS 



Whether or not pigeons are capable of taking 

 observations during flight, it must be admitted 

 they have every opportunity for so doing. But 

 to turn another page in Nature's book, we 

 note the manifestations of a creature who has 

 practically no outlook on the surroundings, yet 

 makes its point, notwithstanding. 



In early spring frogs and toads (the latter 

 shun water except at the breeding season) 

 make their way in a direct line across country 

 to some pond or pool of water. When the 

 country is enclosed these creatures are ham- 

 pered by innumerable obstacles in the form 

 of hedges, banks and thick undergrowth, yet 

 nothing daunts them. From their low posi- 

 tion in the grass the frogs can see next to 

 nothing around them. 



Some of these travellers have long distances 

 to cover, and being slow movers take days to 

 accomplish the journey. But with the ex- 

 ception of those (a large number) who succumb 



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