another, instinctively, and thereby prevent the evaporation of their humidity; for no water is ever put to them. In Vienna, in the year 1793, there were only three great dealers, by whom most of those persons were supplied who brought them to the market ready for the cook*.

7

From their spawning-time being very late in the year, it is supposed that those animals that are brought to market before the month of June for the Edible Frog, are either Common Frogs, or some times they are even Toads.

THE BULL FROG†.

This is an animal that frequently measures from the nose to the hind-feet a foot and a half, or upwards. The colour of its body is a dusky olive or brown, marked with numerous dark spots, lighter beneath than above. The external membranes of the ears are large, round, and of a brownish red, surrounded by a yellowish margin.

The interior parts of America are the principal residence of this species, where, at the springs or small rills, they are said to sit in pairs. In Virginia they are in such abundance that there is scarcely a

*Townson's Travels, 14.

SYNONYMS.-Rana Catesbeiana. Shaw. Rana ocellata. Linn? La mugissante, ou Grenouille Taureau. La Cepede. Bull Frog Catesby.Shaw's Gen. Zool. vol. 3. tab. 33.

Dr. Shaw is of opinion that Linnæus has described the Argus Frog of General Zoology under the name of Rana ocellata.

single spring that has not a pair of

When

them. suddenly surprised, by a long leap or two they enter the hole, at the bottom of which they lie perfectly The inhabitants fancy that they purify the water, and respect them as genii of the fountains*. -Kalm informs us that they frequent only ponds and marshes.

secure.

Their croaking is said somewhat to resemble the hoarse lowing of a bull; and when, in a calm night, many of them are making a noise together, they may be heard to the distance of a mile and a half. The night is the time when they croak, and they are said to do it at intervals. In this act they are either hidden among the grass or rushes, or they are in the water, with their heads above the surfacet. Kalm informs us that, as he was one day riding out, he heard one of them roaring before him, and, supposed it to be a bull hidden in the bushes at a little distance. The voice was indeed more hoarse than that of a bull, yet it was much too loud for him to conceive that it could be emitted by so small an animal as a Frog, and he was in considerable alarm for his safety. He was undeceived a few hours afterwards by a party of Swedes, to whom he had communicated his fears.

When alarmed, they leap to a most surprising distance at each exertion. A full-grown Bull-Frog will sometimes leap three yards. The following

* Catesby, ii. 72. † La Hontan.

‡ Kalm, ii. 170.

story respecting one of them is well authenticated. The American Indians are known to be excellent runners, being almost able to equal the best horse in its swiftest course. In order, therefore, to try how well the Bull Frogs could leap, some Swedes laid a wager with a young Indian that he could not overtake one of them, provided it had two leaps beforehand. They carried a Bull Frog, which they had caught in a pond, into a field, and burnt its tail. The fire, and the Indian who endeavoured to get up to the frog, had together such an effect upon the animal, that it made its long leaps across the field as fast as it could. The Indian pursued it with all his might. The noise he made in running frightened the poor frog: probably it was afraid of being tortured with fire again, and therefore it redoubled its leaps, and by that means reached the pond, which was fixed on as their goal, before the Indian could overtake it*.

The women are no friends to these frogs, because they kill and eat young ducks and goslings; and sometimes they carry off chickens that venture too near the ponds. During winter they remain in a torpid state under the mud: and in spring they commence their bellowings.

They are edible, and have frequently as much meat on them as a young fowl.-A few years ago some of them were brought alive into this country.

Kalm.

THE TREE Frog*.

The Tree Frog is a native of America, of France, Germany, Italy, and many other European regions, but is not found in Britain.-It is small, and of a slender and very elegant shape. Its upper parts are green, and the abdomen is whitish, marked by numerous granules. The under surface of the limbs is reddish; and on each side of the body there is a longitudinal blackish or violet-coloured streak. The body is smooth above, and the hind legs are very long and slender. At the end of each toe is a round, fleshy, concave apparatus, not unlike the mouth of a leech, by means of which the animal is enabled to adhere even to the most polished surfacest.

During the summer months it resides principally on the upper branches of the trees, where it wanders among the foliage in quest of insects. These it catches with great dexterity, stealing softly towards them as a cat does towards a mouse, till at a proper distance, when it makes a sudden spring upon them, of frequently more than a foot in height. -It often suspends itself by its feet, or abdomen, to the under parts of leaves, remaining thus concealed among the foliage.

The skin of the abdomen is covered with small

SYNONYMS.-Rana arborea. Linn.-Rana bilineata. Shaw. La Reine verte, ou commune. La Cepede.-Green Tree Frog. Catesby Shaw's Gen. Zool. vol. iii. tab. 38.

+ Catesby, ii. 71. Shaw's Gen. Zool. iii. 130.

glandular granules of such a nature as to allow the animal to adhere as well by these as by the toes. It will even stick to a glass by pressing its belly against it.

Although during summer it inhabits the woods, yet about the end of autumn it retires to the waters, and lies concealed in a torpid state in the mud or under the banks, till the spring; when, on the return of warm weather, it emerges, like the rest of the genus, to deposit its spawn in the water. At this period the male inflates its throat in a surprising manner, forming a large sphere beneath its head. It also exerts a very loud and sharp croak, that may be heard to a vast distance. The tadpoles become perfected about the beginning of August, and they soon afterwards begin to ascend the adjacent trees.

During their residence in the trees, these frogs are particularly noisy in the evenings on the approach of rain. They are indeed so excellent as barometers, that, if kept in glasses in a room, and supplied with proper food, they afford sure presage of changes of the weather*.

In order to make some observations on the respiration of the Reptile tribe, Dr. Townson had among others some Tree Frogs. He kept them in a window, and appropriated to their use a bowl of water, in which they lived. They soon grew quite tame; and to two that he had for a considerable length of time, and were particular favourites, he gave the

* Shaw's Gen. Zool. iii. 130.