1084 Marvels of the Universe 
Photos by] [W. B. Johnson. 
FROG-TADPOLES. 
In this series further advances are evident. The gills have disappeared, and in the middle figure the hind legs have 
put in an appearance, the colour is changing from black to brown, and the tail-fin has become high and_ spotted. 
(Natural size.) 
thousands of these young Frogs from the ponds, and the sight of so many actively hopping 
little creatures leads the uninformed to declare that they have descended from the clouds with 
the rain. 
Henceforth it is a terrestrial creature, not an aquatic. A certain number of Frogs will always 
be found in the neighbourhood of the pond, because of the moist condition of the lush waterside 
vegetation and the abundance of insect life about it. For the Frog restricts itself to an animal 
diet, and its food must be taken alive—flies, caterpillars, worms, slugs, beetles. All small things 
that show activity will arouse the interest of the Frog. He sits with great stolidity until the moving 
creature comes within range. Then the tip of the long sticky tongue is shot out, and returned with 
its quarry adhering. 
In about three seasons, if it escapes the jaws of its many enemies, our Frog will be full-grown 
and able to breed ; and then, if the fates are still kind, the creature may live on till it reaches the 
age of seven or eight years, or even more. 
A WOSSIL SIASILIOLW 
BY FREDERICK CHAPMAN, A.L.S. 
THE accompanying photograph is not that of a palm, nor a “‘ fossil fern’ as the discoverer called 
it! It belongs to a group of animals allied to sea-urchins and star-fishes, and is nearly related to 
the living feather-stars, which were described on page 643. We return to the subject only for the 
purpose of showing a complete fossil of a distinct type. The rock in which this interesting and 
Photos bu] LW. B. Johnson. 
TADPOLES—ALMOST FROGS. 
The hind-limbs now show that they are jointed and have fingers at the extremities. In the photo to the right the fore- 
limbs are just perceptible. The tail is beginning to dwindle. (Natural size.) 
