WINTER SLEEP OF TURTLES AND LIZARDS. 65 



year to year, by hibernating during the whiter. For instance, the small 

 "peeper," or cricket-frog, which is so noisy early in spring, lays its eggs 

 in April, and soon after the greater number of them die. The tadpoles 

 pass gradually into the adult or tailless condition, and, in the haunts of 

 the parents, which for four months were nearly or quite tenantless, the 

 offspring appear late in August. These hibernate, to reappear in the fol- 

 lowing spring, sing for a few weeks, lay their eggs, and die. True frogs, 

 like the wood-frog (liana sylvatica), an excellent portrait of which is 

 shown in the left-hand figure of the frontispiece,* live for five or six years. 



Passing to the turtles and tortoises, we may say of those that live in 

 the sea that they migrate to deep waters, like the fishes ; and of those 

 dwelling in fresh waters tliat they pass the winter asleep under the shore- 

 mud as do the frogs, unless they live far enough south to make hiberna- 

 tion needless. The land tortoises (which, by the way, make most inter- 

 esting pets) yon will find burrowing down into loose dry earth as winter 

 comes on, where they sleep undisturbed until spring. A warm noonday 

 often arouses them, when they will creep languidly out, drag their drowsy 

 forms into some sunny spot, and doze until the evening shadows remind 

 them that it is best to seek once more the protection of their snug earthen 

 blankets, where perhaps they will remain invisible for another month or 

 two. Usually they dig down to a considerable depth, but I knew of one 

 case lately where a box-tortoise, prevented from going more than three 

 inches beneath the surface, survived a very cold New England winter 

 without apparent harm. Turtles and tortoises are much less common in 

 the colder than in the warmer latitudes, however. 



The last remark is true as well of the race of lizards and skinks; but 

 when they live in a region too frigid for their being abroad, they pass tiie 

 idle, cold days tucked up in rotten logs and in warm woodland crannies. 



The great alligator, indeed, though a resident of almost tropical 

 swamps, is so sensitive to the cold that he hides away under the well- 



* "In the retired portions of our upland woods, far away from the muddy ponds and 

 stagnant puddles, and close to the leafy haunts of squirrels and chipmunks, if it be even a 

 little damp, we may chance upon a pretty frog, which in color, habits, and disposition is 

 unlike all others. It is, literally, quick as a flash, and for some reason has a great dread 

 of mankind ; at least it takes wonderful leaps and plenty of them, whenever any one hap- 

 pens to come too near. I know of no harder task than to chase a wood-frog over uneven 

 ground. 



"Except in April, when they congregate at some neighboring ponds and lay their 

 eggs, these frogs frequent the woods the year through, feeding on flies and such small 

 fry until frost comes, when they burrow some two feet in damp earth, and there they 

 remain until the weather has become fairly spring-like. " — Dr. Abbott. 



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