The Camden Journal

A Domestic Frog.—In Silliman's Journal, there is an account of a frog in a perfect state of domestication, in the possession of Dr. William Roots, of Kingston. It appears that the lower offices of his house were what is called under-grounds, on the banks of the Thames. This little reptile accidentally appeared to servants emerging from a hole in the skirting of the kitchen, and for the first year constantly withdrew upon their approach. From their kindness, however, and from partaking of food given to him, he gradually acquired habits of familiarity, and during the following three years, regularly came out every day, particularly at meal time, and partook of the food given him by the servants. One of the most remarkable features in his artificial state of existence was his strong partiality for warmth, as during the winter he regularly (contrary to the cold-blooded tendency of his nature) came out of his hole in the evening, and directly made for the hearth, in front of a good kitchen fire, where he would continue to bask and enjoy himself until the family retired to rest. There happened to be, at the same time, a favorite old domestic cat, and a sort of attachment existed between the two incongruous inmates; the frog frequently nestling under the warm fur of the cat; whilst the cat appeared extremely jealous of interrupting the comforts and convenience of the frog.