34 THE MATI y AMElXO FROG. 



Another article of which our children partook with eager- 

 ness was a very large frog, called " Matlametlo.''* 



These enormous frogs, which, when cooked, look like 

 chickens, are supposed by the natives to fall down from 

 thunder-clouds, because after a heavy thunder-shower the 

 pools, which are rilled and retain water a few days, become 

 instantly alive with this loud-croaking pugnacious game. 

 This phenomenon takes place in the driest parts of the 

 desert, and in places where to an ordinary observer there 

 is not a sign of life. Having been once benighted in a 

 district of the Kalahari where there was no prospect of 

 getting water for our cattle for a day or two, I was sur- 

 prised to hear in the fine still evening the croaking of frogs. 

 Walking out until I was certain that the musicians were 

 between me and our fire, I found that they could be merry 

 on nothing else but a prospect of rain. From the Bushmen 

 I afterwards learned that the matlametlo makes a hole at 

 the root of certain bushes, and there ensconces himself 

 during the months of drought. As he seldom emerges, a 

 large variety of spider takes advantage of the hole, and 

 makes its web across the orifice. He is thus furnished with 

 a window and screen gratis ; and no one but a Bushman 

 would think of searching beneath a spider's web for a frog. 

 They completely eluded my search on the occasion referred 

 to ; and as they rush forth into the hollows filled by the 

 thunder-shower when the rain is actually falling, and the 

 Bechuanas are cowering under their skin garments, the 

 sudden chorus struck up simultaneously from all sides 

 seems to indicate a descent from the clouds. 



The presence of these matlametlo in the desert in a time 

 of drought was rather a disappointment, for I had been 

 accustomed to suppose that the note was always emitted 

 by them when they were chin-deep in water. Their music 

 was always regarded in other spots as the most pleasant 

 sound that met the ear after crossing portions of the 

 thirsty desert ; and I could fully appreciate the sympatrry 

 for these animals shown by ^sop, himself an African, in 

 his fable of the " Boys and the Frogs." 



It is remarkable that attempts have not been made to 

 any extent to domesticate some of the noble and useful 



* The Pyocephalus adspersus of Dr. Smith. Length of head and 

 body, 5J inches ; forelegs, 3 inches ; hindlegs, 6 inches. Width of 

 head posteriorly, 3 inches ; of body, 4^ inches. 



