“The frog can change his colour from light to dark. He has long hind legs which enable him to hop very high on land and to swim very fast in the pool.
“He likes the long, damp grass, where he catches flies, beetles, and slugs.
“He sleeps through the winter, buried in the mud at the bottom of the still pool.
“Like the toad, the frog catches his prey by means of a long, sticky tongue, which darts out of his mouth whenever an unlucky insect comes within reach.
“His tongue is fixed to the floor of his mouth just at his lower lip. It is forked at the end. When not in use, it lies folded back inside his mouth and points down his throat.”
Exercises on Lesson X.
1. Where are frogs, newts, and toads in winter-time? 2. How could you tell a toad from a frog? 3. What is the difference between young newts (tadpoles) and young frogs (tadpoles)? 4. Write the life of a frog (or of a toad) as if told by the creature itself.
XI.—UNDERGROUND STEMS.
Uncle George and his three young pupils had been to the woods. After tea he opened the metal box which he carried, slung by a strap over his shoulder, whenever he went out rambling.
This box had in it a pond-net and a couple of wide bottles. To-night it was half filled with plants.