The daily gazette., 1881-01-13
THE HABITS OF THE FROG.
PAPER READ BEFORE THE CHAD's
FORD FARMERS CLUB, BY JOSEPH
WILCOX DECEMBER 10TH, 1880.

The subjoined instructive article
Ia taken from the Field and Afoos,
dated December 22nd, 1880.
When received an invitation to
attend this meeting of the Club, /
was requested to write something to
initiate the programme of entertain
ment. As through the discussions
of this Club, we have all been in
structed how to milk and churu, and
how to raise calves and pumkins; how
to pillow, and to SOW, and to reap /;
and as we have 30 luxuriously gra-
zed on the rich pastures, in the field
of agricultural science, have felt
obliged to leave the ground entirely,
and to 90 into the water, to find new
food for the entertainment. So l
have concluded to write upon frogs.
1t 10 a safe time, at this season, to
discuss the frog subject, while they
are down in the mud, and beyond
sight and hearing. As frogs are
amphibious, they like both land and
water. They like the water because
it is damp, and the land because it
is dry; but in winter they like both
mixed, and then they 60 down in
the mud. ErTl lHC5fl
The frog Is not fastidious rep
tile. Fish flesh and fowl are all in
demand in the "frog market"
Nearly every living creature, of Q
reasonable size, including frogs, is
welcome to the capacious maw Of
this batrhchinn. If the young ducks
do not respond In full force at roll
call In the poultry yard, in the eve
ming, you may safely score one black
mark against the big bullfrog In the
duck pond. I have frequently ex-
aminsd the stomachs of these crea-
lures, to ascertain the character OF
their food. In addition to variety
of insects, I have found snakes, fish,
and crayfish.
Having heard that frogs would est
frogs, tried the experiment last year.
caught q lot Of small frogs for bait |
for black bass, and threw one near q
large frog, which "bounced 1t" immee
diately, and swallowed it. l took
frog OF medium size, and tied it to my \
fishing line. /. then put it near The
mouth of another frog not much larger
in size, To see if it would attempt TO
swallow It. Frog No. Q seized No.
by the head, which disappeared In his
mouth, the fore legs preventing fur
ther intrusion. In this condition they
both seemed oontented, and neither
made any more effort, either for en-
or rdisgorgemcnt. Iwaited
3 long time to see il No. . would dis
gorge No. l, and then went away.
After some time | returned, and found
hem still in the same situation, the
head of one being in the mouth Of the
)ther. then separated them. / be-
ieve that tadpoles are favorite food
If frogs. |
where tho opportunity is afforded,
hey select holes where the water
prings from the ground, as such places
Ire rather warmer than the surround.
ny water. Frequently n dosen or
more will select such place for their
winter quarters and the same hole is
'ften shared by lot of snakes, which
i've in harmony with them, the wea-
her being too cold for them to discuss
subjects. A friend of
nine, living in Philadelphia, an emil
lent naturalist, told me that being
'nce in want of o lot Of snakes for ex-
he accompanied man who Z
united frogs In winter for market. A
hin film Of ice covered the water, ex-
ept over the spring holes, which were
hus easily recognised and s'spotted."
The water being shallow and the
itches narrow, the man soon prooeSd-
d to his business. Rolling up his
leeves, Lie pul his hands down into d
he mud and hauled up lot Of torpid
makes and frogs, all from the same
ole. To use The language of my
riend In short time the man had
bucket full Of frogs, and | had near