daresay he's after some of the fat frogs, who live among the bulrushes. Our bright blue 'Brim O' is too clear for frogs; but I often think what the French mounseers would give for such a river as the Swim O.' Why, they would grow fat on it-they would grow fat on it!" And laughing at his own conceit, founded on the common impression that Frenchmen all eat frogs-in fact, that the leg of a frog is of as much value to a Frenchman as a beefsteak to our good John Bull-he crossed the stile, and began talking to his sowers, while the crow (whom he wished to have victimized for the purpose of convincing Mr. Groves that the crows, or rather the rooks, were really the farmers' friends, not their enemies) continued his flight to the river Swim O.

My story leads to the conclusion that crows must understand frog-talk, and that frogs must understand crow-talk-they may have professors of the dead, as well as the living languages, among them; and the tadpoles and juvenile crows may make as much fuss, and be as sulky and disagreeable over their lessons as a great number of my two-legged young friends are at times; they may, for aught I know, get red eyes over their grammars, and boggle sadly at even "twice three!" I certainly should like to see a tadpole academy, conducted upon the best system, and wish Mr. Harrison Weir would show us what it is like.

If, however, he does not know, we can only regret it, and picture it to ourselves as well as we can. But we must set aside our conjectures as to what the little masters and misses of Frogland are like, and how they act in their watery school-rooms, to observe what the comely black crow did. When he arrived on the banks of the river "Swim O," he had found picking up worms and grubs slow work, and, moreover, he was not in favour with his relatives; he was a cunning, greedy bird, and likely to draw more than contempt on the whole colony by his piratical visits to the farm-yard; so he struck out a new line of employment, and had frequently picked up little young exploring frogs in the neighbourhood of the river "Swim O!" but this particular morning he was really very hungry, and resolved if possible to determine which was the most delicate food-chicken or full-grown frog.

When he alighted on the bank, he perceived three or four stately old frogs in debate, under the wide-spread leaves of a gigantic hemlock: he flourished his tail a little, and, after sundry bows (for he saw he was observed) he said

"This is a fine morning, gentlemen, and I see you are, with the wisdom which belongs to your illustrious race, disposed to make the most of it."

This produced only a warning croak, intimating that if he came a hop nearer they would, one and all, plunge into the water.

"How can you do me such injustice? I protest, on the snow-white honour of a crow, that I seek your acquaintance simply because I entertain such profound respect for every member of Frogdom."

This was followed by a very extended hop, and, rapidly, the wise elderly frogs plunged into their protecting element.

The crow sidled along with apparent indifference, one eye watching the water, the other gazing upward.

How the steady old frogs watched him in return, and croaked warnings to all the wandering little ones, to hasten to their water home, for that the

who dwelt

66 Comely black crow,”

"Beside the river Brim O!"

was on the look-out, and some of them would be surely sacrificed.

The crow put in practice all his airs and graces to lull suspicion. Hungry, as he undoubtedly was, he perched on the bough of a withy, and commenced trimming and pruning his feathers, as if entirely bent on personal adornment, bending forward occasionally to consult the mirror of

as to his looks.

* the standing pool"

He croaked fragments of the mother-songs of Rookdom, particularly the "Storm Lullaby"

"Peaceful croaking on the tree-top
Mother watches o'er your rest;
Doze, my darlings, there's no danger,
Safe beneath my coal-black breast;
Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby,

Boys' legs are long, but the tree is high!"

Doubtless he chose this domestic strain to inspire confidence. And presently who should come carefully, and as he intended, gracefully, swimming towards him, but the jolly fat frog?

"The

"What a delicious frog!" thought the comely black crow, appearing not to see him. raven himself could not desire a finer treat. Why, his hind legs would dine two crows.

F

And