Chap. XXIY. FROGS AND TOADS. 487 



on the dry leaves with stealthy steps, that, for anything we knew, 

 we might nest moment be charged by one of the most dangerous 

 beasts of the forest. We threaded out their doublings for hours, 

 drawn on by a keen craving for animal food, as we had been 

 entirely without salt for upwards of two months, but never could 

 get a shot. 



In passing along the side of water everywhere, except hi 

 Londa, green frogs spring out at your feet, and light in the 

 water, as if taking a " header ;" and on the Leeambye and Chobe 

 we have great numbers of small green frogs (Rana faseiata, 

 Boie), which light on blades of grass with remarkable precision ; 

 but on coming along the Leeba, I was struck by the sight of a 

 light green toad about an inch long. The leaf might be nearly 

 perpendicular, but it stuck to it like a fly. It was of the same 

 size as the Brachymerus bi-fasciatus (Smith),* which I saw only 

 once in the Bakwain country. Though small, it was hideous, 

 being coloured jet-black, with vermilion spots. 



Before reaching the Makondo rivulet, latitude 13° 23' 12" S., 

 we came upon the tsetse in such numbers, that many bites were 

 inflicted on my poor ox, in spite of a man with a branch warding 

 them off. The bite of this insect does not affect the donkey as it 



* The discovery of this last species is thus mentioned by that accomplished 

 naturalist, Dr. Smith : " On the banks of the Limpopo river, close to the 

 tropic of Capricorn, a massive tree was cut down to obtain wood to repair a 

 waggon. The workman, while sawing the trunk longitudinally nearly along 

 its centre, remarked, on reaching a certain point, ' It is hollow, and will not 

 answer the purpose for which it is wanted.' He persevered, however, and 

 when a division into equal halves was effected, it was discovered that the saw 

 in its course had crossed a large hole in which were five specimens of the 

 species just described, each about an inch in length. Every exertion was 

 made to discover a means of communication between the external air and the 

 cavity, but without success. Every part of the latter was probed with the 

 utmost care, and water was kept in each half for a considerable time, without 

 any passing into the wood. The inner surface of the cavity was black, as if 

 charred, and so was likewise the adjoining wood for half an inch from the 

 cavity. The tree, at the part where the latter existed, was 19 inches in 

 diameter, the length of the trunk was 18 feet. The age, which was observed 

 at the time, I regret to say does not appear to be noted. When the Batrachia 

 above mentioned were discovered, they appeared inanimate, but the influence 

 of a warm sun to which they were subjected, soon imparted to them a moderate 

 degree of vigour. In a few hours from the time they were liberated, they were 

 tolerably active, and able to move from place to place apparently with great 

 ease." 



