36 DATS OUT OF DOORS. 



nor am I alone in this — to go a little further and express 

 the belief that were any number of unbiassed persons 

 present and watching this wood-frog, as I did to-day, they 

 would agree in this, that the animal not only recognized 

 my friend, but had a semblance of affection for him. 



But while all may agree that animals can be taught, 

 it is by no means every man who can be a teacher. I 

 have known those with whom our domestic animals, and 

 especially dogs and eats, became friendly at once, while 

 others could never approach them, the dogs showing their 

 teeth and the cats decamping in fear ; yet these unfortu- 

 nate people honestly desired to be friendly, and were really 

 gentle and kind-hearted. 



My friend to whom I have referred has, to perfection, 

 the happy quality of gaining the confidence of animals. 

 Within a few days, an old male night-heron, that had 

 been caught in a steel trap, was brought to him. The 

 bird was not of an amiable disposition, if one might 

 judge from its expression. A day or two of kindness and 

 coaxing were all-suflBcient, and now the heron is fairly 

 tame, and no one can question that it recognizes its master 

 from all others, coming promptly when called by him 

 and turning a deaf ear to the entreaties of all others. In 

 my friend's aviary, the same evidence that he exerts an 

 all-powerful influence over the birds is at once plainly 

 noticeable. It is amusing to see, of all birds, a pair of 

 Virginia rails follow him about, keeping close at his heel, 

 like a brace of well-bred spaniels. It was an error on my 

 part to judge too exclusively from my own experiences, 

 and I am convinced now that, like the toad, which I 

 have always championed, the frogs too are teachable. 



But let us return to the untaught frogs in the mead- 

 ows. Strangely, I think, they have never receiTed that 

 consideration from our poets that is their due. Is it be- 

 cause their " music " is not popular with the masses ? Yet 



