160 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
is not attacked unless it is moving; an insect at rest 1s 
watched intently until it begins to move, when the tongue 
is rapidly darted forward and carried back to the mouth 
again with the insect on the tip, the sticky secretion 
with which the tongue is covered helping to secure the 
almost certain capture of the prey. In addition to insects, 
the Frog devours slugs, grubs, worms, and snails, and is, in 
fact, one of the gardener’s most useful friends. 
Habits of the Frog.—Frogs are to be seen in large 
numbers from spring to autumn in ditches, reedy pools, 
and marshy ground generally. As winter approaches they 
bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of sheets of 
water, and remain there in a state of torpor until the 
approach of spring. During their winter sleep, the mouth 
and nostrils are closed, and respiration is carried on entirely 
through the skin. As we have seen, the animal is equally 
at home on land or in the water; on land, it progresses by 
long leaps, and in the water it is able to swim with ease 
and rapidity. 
The Laying of Eggs.—Soon after emerging from their 
long sleep, the animals begin to pair and the females lay 
their eggs or spawn. 
It is at this time that 
Res . ° 
: so much croaking is 
heard. Both males and 
females croak, but the 
male is able to. make 
more noise by means of 
a pair of vocal sacs with 
which he is furnished. 
These le immediately 
behind the eyes, and 
can be inflated with 
Fig. 104.—Skeleton of Frog. air from the mouth. 
