Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-28
AN ANrEpILUVIAN FROG.
Curious Story OF a Little Animal
Which Probably Lived over co.
600 Years.

Which Probably Lived over co.
600 Years.
Tho daily press, says the London En-
ginccring, have recently devoted some
length TO detailing the late history of an
old toad, who was only allowed TO live three
days after having been dug out OF u cavity
wherein he had secluded himself for n triie
of 10000 years or more, and how "local
surgeon" endcavoring TO improve on ma
ture, "hoping TO enable him TO take food, slit
the membranes by which his mouth was
closed, and the patient unfortunately had
not enough vitality TO survive the opera
ton" The theory has been discussed as to
whether tho toad would have continued TO
live above ground had no been left in the
natural condition in which no was found.
The following is the authentic history of
how such another reptile OF q kindred
species was found, tho length Of whose re-
tirement could only be measured by geOl-
ogical period of time, and who was return
ed TO his long-past over-ground life and con-
dltion by natural means.
In the Plenty valley, Victoria, some time
in the early 70's, q road party were making
deep cutting through some clay bods TO
improve local traffic facilities. The clay
bed was tertiary formation; it was hard
and or yellow color. On the clay hank
gum troes, some hundreds Of years old,
were growing. When about thirty feet be-
low the surface n block of this clay in fall
ing broke into two pieces. out OF which
tumble1 frog, with body about 215
inches long an a inches wide. He seemed
blind and sloopy, though showing every
evidence of life he was apparently rs
strong as any other frog of tho same size;
he was in no way thin: in fact. seemed to
be well-nurturod and properly cared-for
frog. The block Of clay was reduced in
size, and the frog " tn the two pieces which
formed the dwelling, was sent To the
Psychological museum, Melbourne Mir.
Newberry, tho chief Of that institution, ex-
amined him very closely and found that all
the natural 0riices OF the body hal closed
completely-in fact, there was Of them not
trace remaining. In color the frog was o
dirty yellow, such as the clay, without any
variation of tinge.
Mr.. Newberry sent this creature for identi-
hcation 10 Frederick Mccoy +. II. S, pro-
lessor OF natural sciences, Melbourne uni
versity. Prof. Mccoy identified him as q
member of well known species whose
habits were in times of trouble, such as
drought or cold, 10 bury themselves in tho
earth and remain there until the condition
of things was moro to their liking. Members
of the species mentioned, however were a
yellow color notified with brown; after the
identification the creature was again return
ed to Mr.. Newberry This gen lcman de-
tcIminod 10 sec if he could by some natural
process educate the sleepy specimen into "a
more vigorous and better understanding Of
n 8 duties as IL live frog. He was then domi-
ciled in small fernery in the useum, and
1t was decided to give him "A bath every
morning proceeding which froggy seemed
strongly 10 object to, though he swan vigor-
ously while in the water. When put back
into his clay cavity he wrigSlcl himself
about until he found the old groove, folded
himself up, and seemed confronted. This
cavity might be described as fitting HIN
where 1t touched him, that is TO say though
touching him all over tho more prominent
parts of the body, the clay was not nodded
into the hollows formed by tho folding of his
limbs. After short while the clay-bed
was taken from him apd he was put among
the ferns on the mold, into which he rapidly
sank stern first by peculiar motion OF his
hlnd legs. For his morning bath he had TO
be dug up daily, then back no would 20
again into seclusion. In O little while two
patches OF dust were noticed on his nose;
these were examined by magnifying glass,
and 1t was found that in the center OF each
was an infinitely minute no o just whore the
nostris should be. After enforced bathing
AID exercise daily for about six weeks the
dull yellow skin cover; ne him began to come
oil in small patches. 1t eventually fell of like
the slough Of a snake revealing him as Prof.
Mccoy said no should BIO. nice
looking notified brown and yellow
etc. After his skin came off he began to
like the water, would jump into it, then
after a swim sit underneath the ferns He
gradually showed q liking to blink in the
sun, and generally deported himself in the
manner OF well conducted frog, though DC
was ncver sooa 10 take any food.
One day the door OF the icrnery was left
opon; who it was that the Unsuitable de-
sire for sensation pervading our modern
civilization affected him so that he desired
to Sc how the world had wagged since ages
agone he had babe it goodbye, whether it
was for the purpose of examining other
objects of interest in the museum, or that
he stepped out for refreshments, or with a
desire to go a-wooing, history has cot been
informed; at all events, instead Of meeting
the lilly white duck" of the fable he came
ip contact with the museum cat, who was
growing around, and before an attendant
looking on could Interfere, he was seized by
the cat, who, with him in her mouth.
dashed through an open window into a
shrubbery hard by and no trace of froggy
was ever again to be found.