Part 13

“The eggs of the toad are laid in the water in long strings, each like a double row of beads. They hang gracefully upon the water weeds, and look very pretty.

“The toad tadpoles are very like those of the frog. They go through the same changes.

“The toad also casts his skin, but he does not throw it away like the newt. He takes his old, cast-off skin, rolls it up into a neat little ball, and swallows it.

“The frog’s body is more slender. His skin is slippery. It is not dull and dingy like that of the toad. It is of a bright greenish yellow colour, marked with black spots of different sizes.

“The frog can change his colour from light to dark. He has long hind legs which enable him to hop very high on land and to swim very fast in the pool.

“He likes the long, damp grass, where he catches flies, beetles, and slugs.

“He sleeps through the winter, buried in the mud at the bottom of the still pool.

“Like the toad, the frog catches his prey by means of a long, sticky tongue, which darts out of his mouth whenever an unlucky insect comes within reach.

“His tongue is fixed to the floor of his mouth just at his lower lip. It is forked at the end. When not in use, it lies folded back inside his mouth and points down his throat.”

Exercises on Lesson X.

1. Where are frogs, newts, and toads in winter-time? 2. How could you tell a toad from a frog? 3. What is the difference between young newts (tadpoles) and young frogs (tadpoles)? 4. Write the life of a frog (or of a toad) as if told by the creature itself.

XI.—UNDERGROUND STEMS.

Uncle George and his three young pupils had been to the woods. After tea he opened the metal box which he carried, slung by a strap over his shoulder, whenever he went out rambling.

This box had in it a pond-net and a couple of wide bottles. To-night it was half filled with plants.

Before laying them on the table, Uncle George washed the soil from their roots at the tap.

“Now then,” he said, “let me see how much you remember of our lesson in the woods. I will begin with Dolly”—and Uncle George held up a lovely white flower.

“That,” said little Dolly, “is the wooden enemy!”

Uncle George laughed loudly, and so did the two boys. Dolly laughed too—she did not quite know why. She was a merry little girl, who laughed whenever she got the chance.

“You mean wood anemone, dear, don’t you?” said Uncle George, as he stroked her pretty curly hair.

“Yes, I mean that, Uncle George; but I can’t say it properly,” said Dolly, still laughing.

“Oh yes, you can if you try—wood a-nem´-o-ne. It is easily pronounced. Now Frank, it is your turn. What is this one with the great number of yellow petals, the spotted heart-shaped leaves, and the funny fat roots?”

“The pilewort, or lesser celandine,” answered Frank.

“Quite right! Now, Tom, here is one for you. This plant, you see, has broad kidney-shaped leaves with crimped edges, large yellow flowers, and a coarse round hollow stem. We found it, if you remember, growing in the mud at the edge of the brook.”

“It is the marsh marigold,” said Tom.

“Very good! Now this one?”

As he held it up all three answered at once—“The primrose!”

“We found this one also growing at the edge of the brook.” As he spoke, Uncle George held out a very pretty plant. Its flowers were of a pale pinkish blue colour. They were shaped like the flowers of the wallflower, but were smaller. The flowers were borne up upon a long stalk which sprang from a rosette of pretty little leaves.

“It is the lady’s smock,” said Dolly; “I remembered that one because it is so pretty.”