Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-04-16
The sARoNETER FROG.


Weather VIII Be.
New York has a frog that Il u wea-
thei prophet. and he follows the ups and
downs Of the mercury with nnfaillns
regularity.
This frog, which is probably the only
one or its kind In America, was recent
" imported from Germany. 1t is
known commonly as the barometer
frog" It's present home Ia In the office
Of DR.. w. 8. Berkmann, on Third ave.
nue.. This peculiar faculty for fore
casting the weather is an accredited
scientific fact. The encyclopedia de-
fines this curious visitor as a "batrach-
ian reptile OF the tailless order, en-
bracing the group Of phanero-glosses
found in Central Germany"
The weather frog has been comfort
ably installed for the last two weeks
In a glass globe. There is rocky
island in the midst of the watery ocean
contained In the glass globe. When
the barometer is a set fair, the frog
suns himself upon this rock. He de-
YOURS enormous quantities of reaches,
purchased by the bagful and fed to him
by his owner. When the small boys In
the neighborhood fail to collect suffi-
cient number of these delicate and
toothsome morsels, which the batrach-
ian declares to be superior In quality
to anything in his native swamps, a
fine beefsteak, chopped fine, keeps his
majesty alive. So far, his digestion has
not been known to interfere with the
prompt performance Of his duties as
weather prophet to the population Of
southern Third avenue.
The weather frog Is n comparatively
rare animal. 1t has not taken long for
his fame to spread, and great num-
Der Of visitors have found it necessary
to pay a visit to the dentist for the
pleasure Of listening to the mOurnful
voice which comes in sOul-stirring
chords from the deep, solid red chest.
If that green-backed, red-chested and
brown-throated bactrachian Is tanning
himself on the summit of the island
upon fine Saturday afternoon visit
ors go away rejoicing. 1t will be a fine
and perhaps hot Sunday. On the other
hand, should the frog slide into the
water and begin to sink, though the sun
may be shining that day, they know 1t
drops quickly, they look out for squalls.
If he remains persistently at the bot
tom, it is an augury of long-continued
rain or disa greeable weather. The
movements Of this long-legged reptile
are so carefully adjusted to the small
variations of the weather that 1t has
been suggested to his owner that a
graduated glass introduced into the
globe would give daily readings which
might be posted outside the building
for the public benefit.
DIR. Berkmann has watched his
movements very closely during the
past fortnight and is prepared to say
that he compares more than favorably
with the man on Broadway. 1t has
been suggested to him that it is not
right to keep his weather prophet hid
den at the bottom of n tank in a den
lists office, but should request the gov
ernment to appoint the frog to the
NtutnCI DulCuu dS III iuJuhNt W thN
present official staff.
The weather frog is valued ut S25-
q price at which it is not likely to be-
come popular in this country. His hind
legs are abnormally long, and his front
legs exceedingly short. He is slow in
motion, but makes up for any deficien-
cies in this way by being extremely
sensitive to sound. He can hear the
approach of an enemy even If he has
not the ability to get out Of the way
very quickly. AS for his voice, it is I'M
like anything heard even in the bull
frog region, and must be listened TO
carefully before musician can form
any estimate Of it's beauty.