Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/55

COMMON FROG musician, the Thrush, inspires us with hope afresh and captivates the ear. The majestic sweep of a Buzzard in ever- widening circles, or the love-flight of the Skylark, cannot fail to hold one entranced, but these creatures of the lowly earth, especially if they glide, creep, crawl, or hop, are looked upon with disdain. It is indeed a poser for which I cannot suggest an explanation. The Common Frog is well distributed, and there are few

ponds, ditches, and other water courses in Spring that are unfrequented by it. At other times it resorts to lush meadows and shady places, though there is no telling the curious situations in which it may be found. In Winter it hibernates, seeking any retreat likely to serve it best, and in Autumn it puts on a surplus supply of fat to tide it over its fast. The males and females make their way to their breeding quarters in March, sometimes earlier or later according to the season, and after mating the eggs are deposited in the water. At first they sink 39