The history of four-footed beasts and serpents describing at large their true and lively figure, their several names, conditions, kinds, virtues ... countries of their breed, their love and hatred to mankind, and the wonderful work by Edward Topsell ; whereunto is now added, The theater of insects, or, Lesser living creatures ... by T. Muffet ...

Of the GREEN FROG.

THis Frog is called Calamites, and Dryophytes, and Man••is, and Rana virens. In Arabia b••e••haricon, and Cucunoines, and Cucumones, Irici, Ranulae, Brexantes, of Brex••ein, to rain, and thereof com∣eth the faigned word of Aristophanes, Brekekekex Koax; but I think that as our English word Frog is derived from the German word Frosch, so the Germans Frosch from the Greek word Brex. It is called also Zamia, that is, Damnum, losse, hurt or damage, because they live in trees, and many times harm Men and Cattle underneath the trees; and therefore called Zamiae, of the Greek word Zen〈…〉〈…〉. The Italians call it Racula, Ranocchia, Lo Ronovoto, Ra〈…〉〈…〉onchia de rubetto. The French, Croissetz, and some-times Graisset, Verdier; in Savöy, Renogle. In Germany, Lou••srosch. In Poland, Zaba T••awna. Some of the Latines for difference sake call it Rana Rubeta, because it liveth in trees and bushes: and for the same cause it is called Calamites, because it liveth among reeds, and Dryopetes, because it selleth some-times out of trees.

It is the least of all other Frogs, and liveth in trees, or

[illustration]

among fruits and trees, especially in the Woods of Hasels, or Vines, for with its short legs it climbeth the highest trees: insomuch that some have thought it had wings. It is green all over the body, except the feet and the fingers, which are of dusty or reddish colour, and the tops of his nails or claws are blunt and round: In the dissection thereof there was bloud found in every part of the body, and yet but little. The heart of it is white, the liver black, mixed with the gall. It hath also a milt, and in the end of July it layeth egges.

It is a venomous Beast, for sometimes Cattle as they brouse upon trees, do swallow down one of these upon the leaves not discerning it, because it is of the same colour: but presently af∣ter they have eaten it their Bellies begin to swell, which must needs proceed from the poysoned Frog.

A second reason proving it to be venomous, is for that many Authors do affirm, that hereof is made the Psilothrum, for the drawing out of teeth by the roots, and for this cause is concluded to be venomous, because this cannot be performed without strong poyson. But for the cure of the poyson of this Frog, we shall expresse it afterward in the history of the Toad, and therefore the Reader must not expect it in this place. Always before rain they climbe up upon the trees and there cry after a hoarse manner very much, which caused the Poet Serenus to call it Rauco ga••rula qu••s••u: at other times it is mute, and hath no voyce: wherefore it is more truly called Manlis, that is, a Pro∣phet or a Diviner, then any other kinde of Frog, because other Frogs which are not altogether mute, do cry both for fear, and also for desire of carnal copulation, but this never cryeth but be∣fore rain.

Some have been of opinion, that this is a dum Frog; and therefore Vincentius Bellu••censis faith, that it is called a mute Frog from the effect: for there is an opinion, that this put into the mouth of a Dog, maketh him dum, which if it be true; it is an argument of the extreme poyson therein con∣tained, overcoming the nature of the Dog, whose chiefest senses are his taste and his smelling. And thus much shall suffice for the description of this Frog.

The medicinal vertues observed herein are these that follow. First if a man which hath a cough, do spet into the mouth of this Frog, it is thought that it doth deliver him from his cough, and be∣ing bound in a Cranes skin unto a mans thigh, procureth venereous desires: but these are but magi∣cal devices, and such as have no apparent reason in nature, wherefore I will omit them, and proceed to them that are more reasonable and natural. First, for the Oyl of Frogs, that is the best which is made out of the green Frogs, as it is observed by Silvius; and if they are held betwixt a mans hands, in the fit of hot burning Ague, do much refresh nature, and ease the pain. For Fever-hecticks they prepare them thus: they take such Frogs as have white bellies, then cut off their heads and pull out their bowels, afterwards they seethe them in water, until the flesh fall from the bones, then they min∣gle the said flesh with Barley meal, made into paste, wherewithal they cram and feed Pullen with that paste, upon which the sick man must be fed, and in default of Frogs they do the like with Eels, and other like Fishes. But there is no part of the Frog so medicinable as is the bloud, called also the mat∣ter or the juyce, and the humor of the Frog, although some of them write, that there is no bloud but in the eyes of a Frog: First therefore with this they kill hair, for upon the place where the hair was puld off, they pour this bloud, and then it never groweth more: And this as I have said already, is an argument of the venom of this Frog; and it hath been proved by experience, that a man hold∣ing one of these Frogs in his hands, his hands have begun to swell, and to break out into blisters. Of this vertue Serenus the Poet writeth thus;

Praeterea quascunque voles avertere setas, Atque in perpetuum rediviva occludere tela, Corporibus vulsis saniem perducito ranae, Sed quae parva situ est, & rauco garrula questu.

That is to say;

Besides, from whatsoever bodies hairs thou will Be clean destroyed, and never grow again On them, the mattery bloud of Frogs, all spread and spill, I mean the little Frog questing hoarse voyce amain.

The same also being made into a Verdigrease, and drunk the weight of a Crown, stoppeth the continual running of the urine. The humor which cometh out of the Frog, being alive when the skin is scraped off from her back, cleareth the eyes by an Ointment: and the flesh laid upon them, easeth their pains; the flesh and fat pulleth out teeth. The powder made of this Frog being drunk, stayeth bleeding, and also expelleth spots of bloud dryed in the body. The same being mingled with Pitch, cureth the falling off of the hair. And thus much shall suffice for the demonstration of the na∣ture of this little green Frog.