arry their eggs about them. The South American Goeldi's
frog carries its eggs on its back, the skin of which on each side is
raised up to form a wall holding the eggs in position. A near relative
of this species--the pouched frog--has carried this device further, so
that the walls meet each other above the eggs, and form a most wonderful
pouch. Until lately, it seemed impossible to account for the presence of
the eggs in such a strange place, but it is now known that they are
placed there by the frog-mother's mate.

[Illustration: Surinam Toad, with its young ones in "pockets" on its
back.]

In another case--that of a kind of toad which is common on some parts of
the Continent--the father of the family winds the eggs in 'chains'
around his hind legs, and sits with them, during the heat of the day, in
some shady place, emerging with the shade of evening to bathe his
growing brood in dew.

[Illustration: Pouched Frog: the eggs are carried in a chamber on the
back.]

A little frog met with in the Seychelles carries its little ones about
on its back, much as a duck will carry its ducklings. But the curious
Surinam toad of South America has improved on this arrangement, and
lodges each little one in a little pocket in the skin of her back!

[Illustration: The Seychelles Frog, which carries its tadpoles on its
back.]

Lastly, and strangest of all, we have a species--again a native of South
America--in which the father carries first the eggs, and then the young
tadpoles, in a pouch in his throat! This pouch, in the early part of the
year, serves as a voice-organ, or, rather, as a musical organ, for when
filled with air it is capable of making a sound which has been likened
to that of a little bell. Later, he places the eggs therein, and, as
these grow, the pouch increases in size, finally extending down each
side of the body, beneath the skin, as far as the hind legs.

[Illustration: The Obstetric Frog, which carries its eggs twisted round
the hind legs.]

W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S.

THE GRUMBLING ROSE.

[Illustration: "'Is the bird alive or dead?'"]

'It is all very well,' said the Rosebud,
That close against my window lattice leans,
'But April is as false as he is fickle,
And there's never any knowing what he means.
He loitered just before me with a whisper
Of mischief much too cunning to detect;
But when I peeped with wonder at the garden,
It wasn't what he led me to expec