As they came within sight of the pond, they need search no further for frogs, for the air was filled with sounds—queer, croaking, unmusical sounds, but unmistakably sounds of the joy of the existence of frogs.
As they came nearer, there was one gulp—“Chu-u-ug”—after another, one splash after another. Then silence reigned supreme and not a sound could be heard.
The youngsters entered into the spirit of the hunt and scattered about the place. Some sat silently on logs or stones waiting patiently for a frog to appear on the edge of the pond; others crouched near the water waiting, with pails in hands, ready to catch a frog the moment he should appear.
It was great fun catching them, for no sooner was the word passed that a frog had been captured, when, lo! he was gone.
It was not long, however, before the little procession was marching homeward with frogs a-plenty.
This new pond made a fine place for them to live in, and they thrived and grew.
For a few days the children made a daily excursion to the pond upon the hill, and brought more frogs to the new home; they brought frogs’ eggs, too, which they carried carefully in their pails.
The eggs were watched, and each day saw a change, so that within a week the pond was swarming with tiny tadpoles or “polly-wogs,” as the children called them. These, too, they carefully observed while they fed them, and as the tiny legs and feet developed, while the tail became absorbed and disappeared—they were told that now the tadpole had changed into a frog and needed air. Then stones were placed into the pond, so large that their surfaces protruded from the water, and upon these the baby frogs hopped and croaked their thanks. The tadpole can be kept in a tadpole state a long time if he is not properly nourished. Also, if his tail is bitten off by an enemy it will grow again.
The toads were found to be more interesting, because they did more actual service to mankind. The children were told that toads live on land almost all of the time, only going to the water to lay their eggs; that they feed on insects from the garden, such as the grub, cut worm, slug, caterpillar, worms, etc. Anything alive he will eat. The toad is, therefore, a great help to the farmer, and no little boy would ever harm a toad if he but understood what a helpful creature he is in the garden.
The frog labors under many disadvantages, as well as having many enemies. The first great disadvantage is that he is neither a water creature, like the fish, nor a land creature like the reptile; so that his struggle for existence is very hard. Should he decide to leave one pond, where the enemy is overwhelming, his only chance is to start on a rainy day to discover a new home for himself, and if he has the good fortune to find one before the sun comes out and dries things up, he is safe.