The frogs then took their attention, but never wholly, for on every occasion when a new flower appeared, it was examined as to its color and possibilities of family rearing. CHAPTER III. _The Toads and Frogs._ The next order of life to study should have been the fishes, but as Bobby’s mother upon investigation found that the nearest stream which contained fishes was five miles away, she decided to go on to the next highest order, the frogs, and point out, as she went, the difference in the two. Of course, there was no difficulty in getting toads, but just where to obtain and how to keep frogs puzzled the community for a few days, until at last it was decided first to make a pond for the frogs to live in, and then go to the nearby ponds and capture some. They were especially fortunate in finding in their locality what at one time had been a reservoir, which had a pipe leading into it from a nearby spring, and another pipe leading out of it into a nearby stream. That the pipe connecting the reservoir with the stream, it was found, could be corked, and in a few days there appeared a delightful pond of clear, clean and fresh water. Their delight knew no restraint when the afternoon came for them to go in search of some occupants for this nice new home. Accordingly, they started out a little late in the afternoon, with pails in their hands, and eager, expectant and happy faces. As they came within sight of the pond, they need search no further for frogs, for the air was filled with sounds—queer, croaking, unmusical sounds, but unmistakably sounds of the joy of the existence of frogs. As they came nearer, there was one gulp—“Chu-u-ug”—after another, one splash after another. Then silence reigned supreme and not a sound could be heard. The youngsters entered into the spirit of the hunt and scattered about the place. Some sat silently on logs or stones waiting patiently for a frog to appear on the edge of the pond; others crouched near the water waiting, with pails in hands, ready to catch a frog the moment he should appear. It was great fun catching them, for no sooner was the word passed that a frog had been captured, when, lo! he was gone. It was not long, however, before the little procession was marching homeward with frogs a-plenty. This new pond made a fine place for them to live in, and they thrived and grew. For a few days the children made a daily excursion to the pond upon the hill, and brought more frogs to the new home; they brought frogs’ eggs, too, which they carried carefully in their pails.