New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-12

psIosrrIs on NATURAL HIsroRr. ., vsAScoS
Rrcxi .sn % Isno. DO as. Rndd CArttoo

-psIosrrrEs OF NATURAL HIsroRr. ., vsAxcuS
BrexIssp, 4 o. isno. PIP as Rndd csrf'0o-
IL 10 seldom that profound science n made the
object Of such popular illustrations - comprise tue
substance of tnis volume, without some sacrlhce 90
ne score Of veraclty Of statement or correctne"
" description. The author Of the present work,
aowrser seems TO have inherited the taIen! Is wei
70 the love Of careful observation from bis Nus
ious father and be certsnly has fe - rivals 10 tae
nit Of communicating bis knowledge in lively
md entertaining style. He has brought together
parking collection Of surprises 10 natural history
i'd anecdotes about animals, "reminiscences OF per.
sonAl adventure, melted doxn into free and e,sy
narrative, which Ia. all the charm Of the hveiest
,oilO9uiA recital.
Her. is specimen Of the way il which he talks
about
FROGS.
Returning from tbs Uoiversty Of Gisssen; brought
9Th NE about dozen green treefrogs, which mad
,spRht in the woods the town. Toe Germsns Cal
hem Lsub Frosch, or esf'froz' they are most DIM
,uk things 20 End account OF ther color go mlcn
resembling the leaves oo which they i've have ire
,uepty beard one gipg in small bash, and, though
have sesrched carefully have not been able 10 hnd
lin: the only way IL TO remain qui quiet lu ne
ssain begips bis song After much ambush work, at
eueth l collected dozen frogs and put them N
bottle. / started at night on my honevard odrney
BY the diligence and put the bottle containing the
togs into the pocket inside the diligence. My fellow
pssse myers were sleepy old smoke drle1 Germans;
very little conversation took psoe and SITTER the hrst
re every one settled himself 20 sleep, and soon au
sere 81 oring. ! suddenly awoke with start snd
found al tue sleepers had been roused at the same
moment. On Their sleepy faces were depicted fear
,nd singer. What had woke us al up 80 suddenly
The morning was Just breaking, and my frogs, though
10 the dark pocket of the coach, hsd fouad 1t out
spd with one accord. al twelve OF them had begun
her ornipg song. As if at given signal they one
and all Of them began 10 crosk as loud az ever they
,ould. The noise their united concert made seemed
10 the closed compartment Of the coach, quite deafen.
ing well might the Germans look angry; they wanted
70 throw the frogs bottle and all ont Of the window
but gave the bottle g good shaking, and msde the
togs keep quiet The Germans all went to sleep
again but 1 was obliged TO remain awake, to shake
the frogs when they began 10 crosk. II vas lucky
hat did So for they tired 70 begin their concert again
two or three times These frogs came safely to Ok
brd ard the day after their arrival stupid house
Maid took off the top of the bottle TO see what was IN
yde one OF the ogs croaked at that instant and 80
frightened her that she dared not put the cover on
.saip. They ell got loose 10 the garden, where De-
i.ye tie ducks ate them, for l never heard or saw
them again. These frogs cost ak shllngs esch In
Gov emit arden Market they not difficult TO keep
alive az they vii eat black beetles and these are to
be procured at all seasons Of the year.
These frogs are not often used for the table In
3ermsny, but in France they are considered
u1ury, "ss any bon rirant ordering dish of them
1t the Trois Freres at Paris may BY the long
once speedily ascertain" The author tells US that,
Not wishing to try such an expensive experiment in
fasuopomy, 1 went to the large market in tue Eau
oourg st. German, and inquired Tor frogs. vas re-
erred TO a stately looking dame at fish stall, who
produced box nearly full Of them budding and crawl
pg about, and occasionally croaking as though aware
If the fate TO which they were destined The Price
liked Vas two spenny, aud having ordered dish TO
% prepared, the Dame de la Halle dved her hand IN
an on them and having secured her victims by the
,ird legs che severed them in twain with sharp
knife the legs, minus skin, still struggling were
placed dish and the head with the ore!egs affixed
retained life and motion and performed sach motions
shat the operation became painful 10 look at. Tnese
legs we're ateIward cooked at the restaurateur be-
ing served up fried in breadorumbs, as larks are IN
IglsId: and most excellent eating they were, tasting
more like the delicate flesh of the rabbit than any.
thing else can think of.
afterw ard tried dish Of the common English frog,
but his flesh is not white nor 80 tender as that OF
ss French brother.
should any person wish 10 have sdsh Of res French
frogs he can buy at Fortnum and Masons, for half
ounce tir.csseful. They beautifully preserved,
,nd sre ready for cooking have eaten them a; the
,ouse OF lady, who kindly invited me 70 luncheon
sben she tried the experiment.
The old fshwlfe of whom l bought the frogs in
'ormed me that she had man regularly in her employ
70 catch them He went out every evening at dusk to
he ponds in the neigh borhood of Paris with lantern
.nd long stick, TO the end Of which was attached
piece of red cloth. The frogs were attracted by the
eight to the place where the fisherman stood. He then
ehty dropped his cloth on the surface OF the water
he fIcgs, imagining that some dainty morssi was
placed before them, eagerly snapped at it, and, their
eeth becoming entaDgled, they became an easy prey,
,e.tined for tomorrow market and the tender nef
sizes Of the fish, or rather frog woman.
subsequently brought over several dozen OF csc
frogs alive to England; some Of them are still, be-
ieye living in the Wards botanical CAGES Of those to
shom presented them; the rest were turned oct in
pond where l fear they have been devoured by the
sournsnd English ducks, It's rightful occupants.
The edible frog (rana eseulenta) is brought from the
.ountry in quantities OF from thirty 10 forty thousand
II time, TO Vienna, and sold TO great dealers who
awe coptervatOries for them: these conseryatores
are large holes four five feet deep, dug in the ground
.he mouth covered with board, and in Pevere weather
with straw. In these Conservatives, even during
hard FROST the frogs become quite torpid they
get together in heaps, upon another instincvey
md thereby prev EFT the evaporation OF their humid
ty for no water is ever put TO them.
In Vienna, in 1898, there were only three dealers
Who supplied the market with frogs ready skinned
prepared for the cook.
dis discourse 10 no lei" instructive about
II is q curious but nevertheless wel-ascertsned
act that where there s good habitat tor rat II
quite certain that there rat will be. The inmedi-
ate occupier may be sain but in few days the favor
t. spot will be found out, and taken possession OF by
snoher rat who will in bis turn meet the same fate az
,it predece.sor and will be succeeded by another de-
uded VICTIM who lie doomed a. the doctors would ssy,
'to be taken ss before
The rat is a most strict observer OF the law "Bs
fruitful and multiply In cleaning out the cell con:
aiming a little happy family Of five rats, Of
varieg ated colors-sn Of which were perfectly
anne, and live in peace and harmony felt
tbA hav arm sDff
,aiing il carefully out, it proved to be little
inv rat hairless and eyeless bat nevertheless en-