Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-15
HABITS OF FROGS.
Follow Regular Leaders and Travel
In Big BrOves.

From the Minneapolis Tribune.
To rid the Minneapolis reservoir of frogs
and at the same time corner the frog mar
ket of the country is the earnest desire Of
Isaac La Bissonerre one of the most noted
old residents of the northwest.
This is what Mr.. La Bissonierre had to
say:
have leader and travel in huge flocks.
During the warm weather they are scat
tered all over the country, and you are
likely to find them in the woods or IN the
public street, but at the first touch OF cold
weather they begin to congregate for all
the world like lot of birds getting ready
to go south for the winter
Being cold-blooded anmals-if animals
they can be called-the frogs dread the cold
weather, and when the first frost comes
they start for the deep water, to the bot
tom of which they sink and cover them
selves with mud, in which they spend the
winter, emerging again in the spring ready
to do their duty by the fishermen or by the
man who loves frogs hind legs.
Each party of frogs has its own leader.
generally a big fellow who has knocked
around the world and who has become wise
as to the ways of man. This leader trav-
els all over the country, collecting the frogs
Of his band, calling them with a peculiar
'chug, chug! which can be heard long
distance. After the frogs have been col
lected a sort Of conference Is held, during
which subleaders are appointed by the
leader proper.
which in this case happens to be the Min
neapolis reservoir, the frogs avoiding the
river as much as possible on account of
the swift current. Every mile or so
stop Is made, scouts sent out and adj
ditions to the band are brought in. In
this way the journey to the reservoir Is
continued sometimes a week or so being
consumed in making the trip.
Arriving at the reservoir, another con-
ference Is held, when 1t is likely, the best
method of getting over the fence which
ha
sons to think frogs can be kept out
by means Of wire fence but in this they
are mistaken. for there is nothing better
frogs like than getting over wire fences.
especially If the fences are warranted to
keep them out
Ibid you see a frog climb? Well.
if you want to see not one of them, but
thousands, just go to the reservoir this
fall and your curiosity will be more than
satisfied. You Will see all the frogs in
Northeast Minneapolis start for that fence
and go over it as a thoroughbred jumping
horse would go over a two-rail fence. They
have learned how by long experience.
Sometimes some of the young frogs are
unable to muster strength enough to make
the jump with any degre of satisfaction to
the leaders, and then there is scene SO
funny that no man can help laughing. The
little frogs lined up alongside of the
wire fence, and then the leaders come at
them with rush. uttering croaks of anger
and rage The little frogs. alarmed by this
demonstration, and no doubt thinking they
are to be destroyed, begin to climb
THAT is what the leaders want. AS soon
as the youngsters are part way up the
fence the leaders climb after them, and
literally boost them to the top. small
boy would boost another over a garden
wall. When the little fellows have reach
ed the top the leaders give vent to their
satisfaction by chuckles Of delight and any
man who has studied the habits of the
creatures can almost understand what they
are saying.
After reaching the inside of the reser-
voir the frogs rest for a day OF so, during
which time they hold a grand reunion, the
members of each band becoming acquaint-
ed with the members Of the other bands,
and no doubt exchanging experiences re-
gardng life in the outer world. This re-
union is generally continued until the first
real cold night, when the frogs all disap-
pear going to the bottom, where they re-
main until the water warns up in the
springtime.
When the weather gets warm after the
Ice has gone out the leaders are the first
ones to emerge from their winter quarters.
They rise to the surface, and with many
a croak call the members of their bands to
the sunlight. This is the time the young
frogs-the very young ones, I mean-make
their appearance. The spawn floats around
on the surface of the water, and in order
to exterminate the amphibians all this
spawn should be skinned off.
This is where my secret method comes
into play. II l am given permission to rid
the reservoir Of the frogs l will begin work
at once and when the springtime comes
there will not be one left in the reservoir.
The present fence is good as a frog
stopper. There is important feature
lacking, and when have added that. and
then removed all the spawn In the spring,
YOU will never again be able to find a frog
or the trace of a frog in the place.