FROG. 
25 
sunk in the mud, or hid beneath a bank. In the 
spring they begin to revive, and, like the rest of the 
genus, deposit their spawn in the water. The ap- 
pearance of the male at this period is completely 
altered; his throat being dilated in a surprising man- 
ner, and forming a large sphere beneath his head. 
His croak at this season is also very loud ; and when- 
ever one begins, all that are within hearing join the 
harsh discordant chorus, so that the noise of the 
whole is said to resemble a pack of hounds, and may 
sometimes be heard, when the evenings are very 
quiet, to the distance of near three miles. As soon 
as the young frogs have emerged from the tadpole 
state, they leave the water and ascend the trees. 
The account which Dr. Townson has given us in 
his Tracts relative to two of these animals, which 
he kept by him for some time, is entertaining, and 
serves in some measure to illustrate their natural 
history. The doctor placed them among others in 
his window, and provided for them a bowl of water 
in which they lived. They soon grew tame ; and 
the two which are the subject of the following ac- 
count shared his favours above the rest ; to these he 
gave the names of Damon and Musidora. When- 
ever they descended to the floor in hot weather 
they soon became lank and emaciated; and if a few 
drops of water were thrown upon the floor they 
constantly applied their bodies to it as close as they 
could, and from this absorption through the skin 
they soon recovered their plumpness, though they 
were very lank and flaccid before. In the evening they 
