FROGrS, TOADS, AND REPTILES. 255 
thing, the account is sufficiently credible for me to 
quote : — 
I used to open the gate in the railings round the pond, and 
call out 4 Tommy ’ (the name I had given it), and the frog 
would jump out from the bushes, dive into the water, and swim 
across to me get on my hand sometimes. When I called 
4 Tommy,’ it would nearly always come, whatever the time of 
day, though it was only fed after breakfast ; but it seemed quite 
tame. 
A very similar case is recorded by Mr. Pennent 1 of 
a toad which was domesticated for thirty-six years, and 
knew all his friends. 
There is no doubt that frogs are able to appreciate 
coming changes of weather, and to adapt their movements 
in anticipation of them ; but these facts show delicate 
sensibility rather than remarkable intelligence. 
The following observation of Edward, the Scottish 
naturalist, however, shows considerable powers of observa- 
tion on the part of frogs. After describing the great 
noise made by a number of frogs on a moonlight night, 
he says : — 
Presently, when the whole of the vocalists had reached their 
highest notes, they became hushed in an instant. I was amazed 
at this, and began to wonder at the sudden termination of the 
concert. But, looking about, I observed a brown owl drop 
down, with the silence of death, on to the top of a low dyke 
close by the orchestra . 2 
Reptiles . 
Like the other cold-blooded Vertebrata, the reptiles are 
characterised by a sluggishness and low development of 
mental power which is to some extent proverbial. Never- 
theless, that some members of the class present vivid 
emotions is not to be questioned. Thus, to quote from 
Thompson : — 
The common guana ( Lacerta iguana) is naturally extremely 
gentle and harmless. Its appearance, however, is much against 
1 See Pingley, Animal Biography , vol. ii., p. 406, 
* Smiles, Life of Edwards, p» 124. 
18 
