Premium Essay

Of Frogs and Flowers

In: English and Literature

Submitted By sonnenblume
Words 483
Pages 2
A couple of summers ago I was walking along the edge of the island to see what I could see in the water, and mainly to scare frogs. Frogs have an inelegant way of taking off from invisible positions on the bank just ahead of your feet, in dire panic, emitting a froggy “Yike!” and splashing into the water. Incredibly, this amused me, and, incredibly, it amuses me still. As I walked along the grassy edge of the island, I got better and better at seeing frogs both in and out of the water. I learned to recognize, slowing down, the difference in texture of the light reflected from mud bank, water, grass, or frog. Frogs were flying all around me. At the end of the island I noticed a small green frog. He was exactly half in and half out of the water, looking like a schematic diagram of an amphibian, and he didn’t jump.

He didn’t jump; I crept closer. At last I knelt on the island’s winter killed grass, lost, dumbstruck, staring at the frog in the creek just four feet away. He was a very small frog with wide, dull eyes. And just as I looked at him, he slowly crumpled and began to sag. The spirit vanished from his eyes as if snuffed. His skin emptied and drooped; his very skull seemed to collapse and settle like a kicked tent. He was shrinking before my eyes like a deflating football. I watched the taut, glistening skin on his shoulders ruck, and rumple, and fall. Soon, part of his skin, formless as a pricked balloon, lay in floating folds like bright scum on top of the water: it was a monstrous and terrifying thing. I gaped bewildered, appalled. An oval shadow hung in the water behind the drained frog; then the shadow glided away. The frog skin bag started to sink.

I had read about the giant water bug, but never seen one. “Giant water bug” is really the name of the creature, which is an enormous, heavy-bodied brown bug. It eats insects, tadpoles,

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Asdfghjkl

...FERNANDEZ, Sam T401 MWF 330-430 BS HTM TTM 4 10 September 2014 AUSTRALIA 1. Southern corroboree frog - Pseudophryne corroboree IUCN listing: Critically Endangered Inhabiting a small corridor on the New South Wales and Victorian border, the tiny southern corroboree frog - which is the size of a fingernail - is running on the edge of extinction. Fewer than 150 breeding males are thought to survive across 23 sites that were surveyed in 2001. The main suspected threat is the chytrid fungi. Although many studies have been undertaken, the success has been limited, as they have not been able to confirm the critical threat to the frogs. A studying conducted between 1997 and 1999 revealed that the frogs were present in 213 sites around the NSW and Victorian border but this number dropped only 79 sites as of 2001, revealing how quickly these animals were disappearing. A captive-breeding program, led by Sydney's Taronga Zoo, reintroduced 800 eggs into Kosciuszko National Park in 2012. 2. Margaret River burrowing crayfish - Engaewa pseudoreducta IUCN listing: Critically Endangered With only two known populations, the Margaret River burrowing crayfish is highly endangered. Even one of these may no longer exist, as there have been no sightings since 1985. The threats are almost all attributed to human activity. Land clearing  is the biggest danger, as crayfish habitat can be eroded or contaminated by farming, mining and urban development. Feral pigs also damage habitat...

Words: 1801 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

An Example Of Mutualism In The Amazons

...One example of Mutualism is the orange Costus flower has glands that produce nectar, the Trap-jaw ants drink. The ant stays on the flower sipping nectar and scares away insects that could come to harm to the flower. An exmaple of Paratism the fungi attack carpenter ants and turn them into zombies,then when the ant dies the fungi can grow from the corpse. An exmaple of commensalism is the posion dart frog benefit by using the leaves of the vermiliad as shelter from rain and sun. The vermiliad is unaffect from the posion dart frogs. The environmental problems the Amazons faces is goverment programmes are pushing for consant development. THey often encourage clearanceof teh forest for cattle ranching,soybean production,and oil drilling. China...

Words: 313 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Myths

...Myths The Fox with the Nine-Tails The Fox with the Nine-Tails – Korea In the spirit of Halloween, I asked a teacher if Korea had any scary stories. “Kumiho, the Fox with the Nine-Tails”, he said. Of course my interest was peaked and so he said, “Kumiho is a nine-tailed fox who eats the hearts of humans in order to survive. She digs up graves sometimes to find hearts or attacks men.”  He couldn’t tell me much more so I dug up some info. Unfortunately it all seems like the information is taken from a commentary on a book that holds the oral stories of Korea, Compendium of Korean Oral Literature. This is more or less taken from Wiki and all other sources that say the same basic information: A fox that lives a thousand years turns into a Kumiho, like its Japanese and Chinese counterparts (the kitsune and the huli jing). The current Japanese kitsune can sometimes be evil and sometimes good, but the Korean counterpart over the years has become a symbol of evil. Legends tell that while the Kumiho is capable transforming its appearance, there is still something persistently fox-like about it. In Transformation of the Kimono, a Kumiho transforms into an identical likeness of a bride at a wedding. Not even the bride’s mother can tell the difference. The Kumiho is only discovered when her clothes are removed. As the mythology of the Kumiho evolved it was later believed that a Kumiho had to consume human hearts in order to survive. Another version of the mythology, however...

Words: 6342 - Pages: 26

Free Essay

Food Web Design

...Food Web Design Geree Morris April 24,2010 Bio 101 Instructor Natalie Garay   Introduction: The rainforest biome is exceptional because of the quantity of life it holds. Partially all the worlds’ plants and animals inhabit there. Tree trunks are proven to hold at least forty-three species of ants in the rainforest. Each day, scientists are discovering additional foliage and animals in the temperate rainforest. Numerous people deem that the rainforests multiplicity is due to the closeness of its positioning to the equator. It is stated that the farther a location is from the equator, the fewer plant and animals exists. The temperate rainforest generates the most solar energy in the world, because the equator is the nearest spot on the earth to the sun. Sun rays strike the equator straight on, not on an angle, because of the curve in the earth. The supplementary solar energy permits greater amounts of photosynthesis and growth in plants, permitting animals to have an uninterrupted stock of rations. The consistency in temperature is also a stimulus. Animals do not have to acclimatize to the changing seasons. These animals are provided the opportunity to become familiarized with their ecosystem in methods that are not possible in any other biome. Water also formulates variety (Elizabeth Anne Viau, 2000). Food Web Design: The Temperate Forest: (Elizabeth Anne Viau, 2000). List the organisms that may be found in your ecosystem, and indicate...

Words: 994 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Daddys Girl

...Poems by Shel Silverstein Bear In There There's a Polar Bear In our Frigidaire-He likes it 'cause it's cold in there. With his seat in the meat And his face in the fish And his big hairy paws In the buttery dish, He's nibbling the noodles, He's munching the rice, He's slurping the soda, He's licking the ice. And he lets out a roar If you open the door. And it gives me a scare To know he's in there-That Polary Bear In our Fridgitydaire. Hug O'War I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war, Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, And everyone grins, And everyone cuddles, And everyone wins. The Boa Constrictor Song I'm being swallered by a Boa Constrictor a Boa Constrictor, a Boa Constrictor I'm being swallered by a Boa Constrictor and I don't - like snakes - one bit! Oh no, he swallered my toe. Oh gee, he swallered my knee. Oh fiddle, he swallered my middle. Oh what a pest, he swallered my chest. Oh heck, he swallered my neck. Oh, dread, he swallered my – (BURP) The Loser Mama said I'd lose my head if it wasn't fastened on. Today I guess it wasn't 'cause while playing with my cousin it fell off and rolled away and now it's gone. And I can't look for it 'cause my eyes are in it, and I can't call to it 'cause my mouth is on it (couldn't hear me anyway 'cause my ears are on it), can't even think about it 'cause my brain is in it. So I guess I'll sit down on this rock and rest for just a...

Words: 2497 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Practicum Journal

...No. of items | Percentage of items | Item Placement | 1. Identify the parts of Skeletal System and their function. | 5 | 5 | 10% | 1-5 | 2. Define Skeletal System. | 1 | 1 | 2% | 6 | 3. Describe the different function of muscles. | 9 | 9 | 18% | 7-15 | COMPREHENSION COMPREHENSION 4. Identify the parts of Digestive System and their function. | 2 | 2 | 4% | 16-17 | 5. Explain the importance of keeping the digestive system healthy. | 2 | 2 | 4% | 18-19 | 6. Give a common ailment of the Digestive System. | 1 | 1 | 2% | 20 | APPLICATION APPLICATION 7. Discover an example of animals that begin life inside their mother’s body and animals that lay eggs. | 5 | 5 | 10% | 21-25 | 8. Identify the stages in the life cycle of a frog and butterflies. | 5 | 5 | 10% | 26-30 | ANALYSIS ANALYSIS 9. Experiment how are Animals useful to us. | 4 | 4 | 8% | 31-34 | SYNTHESIS SYNTHESIS 10. Explain how are AnimalsHarmful to us. | 5 | 5 | 12% | 35-40 | EVALUATION EVALUATION 11. Proper care and handling of animals. | 11 | 11 | 20% | 41-50 | TOTAL | 50 | 50 | 100% | | Rosalyn P. Bataller 302-A Sir Cafirma QUESTOINAIRE UNDERLINE the letter of the correct answer. 1. It helps us chew food and speak. a. Jaw bones c. Cranium b. Cartilage d. Femur 2. The two large bones attached...

Words: 1623 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Wet Lands

... and the wetlands are swampy, wet, and messy. Also wetlands are different from forests because forests are for camping and fun, wetlands are filled with salt for people to swim in. | | | Where in Utah? | | | | | | | | | | Utah’s wetlands the great salt lake | Kayla Bell | | Cattails along the Great Salt LakeCommon PlantsCattails look like hotdogs but don’tEat them you will get an ugly surprise.Duck Weed is mostly on water not landThey look like weeds that might be in Your back yard. Arrow grass is a plant That looks like a stick with flowers. BalticRush is a plant that looks like a poison Plant but really isn’t. Stream Orchid looks Like vines with pretty flowers. SouthernMaidenhair fern is a plant that looks like a bush. | | | Common Animals In Wetlands.Tiger Trout is a fish that looks like a tiger. Water scorpion is a bug that goes in the water. American Bullfrog is a frog that loves to jump and get active. Mallard duck has a green head yellow beak and a beautiful body that is a golden brown. Tiger Salamander is a lizard that has bright colors and might be poisonous. American Beaver is an animal that can chew down 200 trees in a year. American Beaver partying at the Great Salt Lake |...

Words: 412 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Tropicalrainforest

...ASSIGNMENT 10 PROJECT WORK a) Project for primary classroom THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST UNITOVERVIEW This primary unit takes across curricular approach involving language arts, math, science, and social studies. Art, music and movement education activities are also used to develop the concepts in this unit. Students will learn about the rainforest through a variety of activities to complete both on-line and in downloadable format for use in the classroom. In addition there is a resource bank of print and non-print resources included. Each lesson develops a particular focus and may take one class or several classes to complete. Extending activities are also provided as well as assessment and evaluation tools and templates. Foundational Objectives: Knowledge ! Students will increase their knowledge about the rainforest. Skills and habits * Learn about and practice the skills and strategies of effective listeners, speakers, readers, writers and representers. * Speak and write to express thoughts, information, feelings and experiences in a variety of forms for a variety of purposes and audiences. * Read and view a range of grade-level appropriate oral, print, and other media texts in a variety of situations for a variety of purposes. * Assess personal and group strengths...

Words: 9105 - Pages: 37

Premium Essay

Froggit Alternate Ending

...Let's move on. If I see anyone try to hurt you, they'll be sorry." Kris led Kendall through the caverns. As they were walking, Kendall accidentally stepped on a frog-like creature by the name of Froggit. She complimented it, "You're a very... handsome frog?" Froggit didn't speak English, but was still flattered anyway. It bounced off, dancing with happiness.  "This place is so weird..." said Kendall to herself. They reached a long hallway, and Kris stopped the girl from going any further. "Kendall, I need you to do something. I need you to walk down this hallway. By yourself." Kris ran down the hallway. Kendall casually strolled down the path, humming quietly until she reached an exit. "Oh, goodness. Do you know what that was?" asked Kris. "Nope." "A test of your independence." "Huh. I think I was independent before that... but okay." "Now, I want you to stay here until I get back, alright? Okay, awesome. Wait for me!" Kris left the hallway. "I don't...

Words: 850 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Taxonomy Lab to Show Organism Relationships

...Name: Date: March 16, 2014 Instructor’s Name: Professor Tyra Hall – Pogar Assignment: SCIE207 Phase 5 Lab Report Title: Taxonomy Lab to Show Organism Relationships Instructions: You will need to fill out the data table and answer a set of questions. When your lab report is complete, post it in Submitted Assignment files. Part 1: Using the lab animation, fill in the following data tables to help you answer the questions that follow: Table 1: Samples 1–5 Phylum/Division | Sample 1: Chrysophyta | Sample 2: Annelida | Sample 3: Arthropoda | Sample 4: Amphibia | Sample 5: Aves | Common Feature | Unicellular, primary producers| Segmented body | External skeleton and segmented body | Can obtain oxygen from aquatic and terrestrial biomes | Able to fly; covered with feathers | NutritionHow does the organism break down and absorb food? | Autotrophic | Heterotrophic: Earthworms eat their way through dirt, so they are detritivores. | Heterotrophic: Some are vegetarian, some are carnivorous, and some are decomposers. | Heterotrophic: These are usually vegetarian as tadpoles and carnivores as adults. | Heterotrophic | Circulatory System (Transport)How does the organism get what it needs to cells (open, closed, diffusion only)? | Diffusion only | Closed with 5 aortic arches (hearts) | Open circulatory system with a heart pumping hemolymph | Closed with 3-chambered heart | Closed with 4-chambered heart | Respiratory SystemHow does the organism get oxygen...

Words: 1002 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Leslie Marmon Silko Ceremony Analysis

...In science class, a “tubful of dead frogs, bloated with formaldehyde” were brought in the room and upon arriva, the Navajos left due to not wanting to be subjected to this type of cruelty. While the science teacher explained it was stupid of them to leave because of beliefs, a Jemez girl explained that they were raised to understand not to kill frogs because “the frogs would get angry and send so much rain that would result in floods (185). The teacher reacted in an unfavorable way, laughing till tears came out of his eyes. Even other white Americans explained that their beliefs were just silly superstitions showing that they didn’t care for the life of...

Words: 1830 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

The Human Body In Medieval Art

...The Renaissance was a time that even when religious, did not maintain a focus in the afterlife. This new period represented a rebirth in which the body was not covered, but glorified or shown. The “David” of Michelangelo, is a sculpture of a biblical hero, this sculpture is larger than life image, almost like it has heroic proportions. He made the body powerful rather than just graceful. The statues head and hands are proportional lager than the rest of the body. The image shows the “ideal” Renaissance man, a man who is fit, intelligent, and powerful. The Renaissance also has Titian’s painting of ‘Venus of Urbino’, which is a painting of a naked woman with flowers in her hand, that is laid, next to a dog, in a bed or sofa. You can observe in the background two persons. and a which represents the women of the time. The pink roses represent goddess Venus, which represents fertility, as well as the dog lying on the bed, and she is seems open with her body. Her stomach is also a little bigger than her body which can represent fertility or birth of a child. As said before, during the Renaissance the men and women and their lifestyle was getting more open with their bodies and mortal life, feeling like they want to live a life respecting and appreciating their bodies. The changes are positive to the upper class citizens because it allows for better art and ideal bodies instead of no respect for the human...

Words: 1004 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Ask for Lives!

...NOTHING GONNA CHANGE MY LOVE FOR YOU Lim Siao Hui: Queen Elsa and May Tan Wei Hooi: Narrator 1 and Priest Boo JiaQuan: King Stefan and April Chong Yi Ting: Aurora and 2nd Fairy Yong Lie Jen: Prime Minister and Beast Low Ee Vior: Narrator 2, and 3rd Fairy and June Ng Sin Yee: Scientist, Physician, Teacher, 1st Fairy, Paramour and Woman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Narrator 1: Back in those days when legends were live and fairy folk wandered round free.  There lives a king named Stefan and his beautiful queen, Elsa, and a frog in the pond called Jordan. I mean, the frog was called Jordan. Not the pond, it would be silly. The pond was called Samantha. Anyway, King Stefan and Queen Elsa were in their fairy tale home up on a hill. Their days were peaceful and quiet, all sweetness and light, all gentle and tranquil. Their days were a long horribly dull holidays.   SCENE 1 - THE PALACE  King Stefan: I’m bored, bored and bored. (Dozes off, reawakens) [SE: SNORING SOUND] I'm bored! Queen Elsa: I know dear, you just said that. King Stefan: I know but I’ll be bored to death soon.  Queen Elsa: For God’s sake, don't start that again. There are lots of interesting stuff to do such as taking an PHD degree in University Tunku Abdul Rahman, participate in Chelsea Football Club or you can also command your warriors to have a battle. King Stefan: [SE: GROANING SOUND] No, I want something...

Words: 3938 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Tropical Rainforest Essay

...It forms around an already grown tree killing the original tree, leaving the Strangler Fig hollow, which then becomes home to animals such as rodents and birds (Butler, 2015). Kapok: This tree is a a part of the emergent layer of the biome as it is extremely tall in height as it can get up to 200 feet (“Species Profile: Kapok Tree.”, 2012). It is also home to a number of animals such as frogs and it brings certain animals with its flowers such as bats as they feed on the nectar (“Species Profile: Kapok Tree.”, 2012). The Tropical Rainforest has an abundance of animal life varying between the levels as each location forms a different environmental habitat (“Rainforest Layers”, 2016). Although animals tend to be found in certain layers of the rainforest, they are not subject to these locations as most move from layer to layer such as boa constrictors moving from the forest floor to the understory layer to hunt prey (“Rainforest Layers”, 2016). Emergent Layer: At the highest level of the tropical rainforest there are many variations of animals such as monkeys and bats (“Layers of a...

Words: 853 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Alice in Wonderland Review

...in the past. Her old friends aren’t sure if it’s the real Alice or not because she is so much older, but after she starts to go along with it, she is able to defeat the Red Queen and become the savior. Although, her friends don’t want her to leave, she returns back to the real world and takes what she learned from under land back with her. Tim Burton movies are one of a kind mainly because of his settings. He is known for always having dark, dreary settings, which is clearly shown in Alice in Wonderland. Most of the scenes are gloomy and dull, except for when Tim decides to incorporate some accent colors into the scenes. When Alice first enters Wonderland, the background is very grey and dark, but there are accents of blues and reds in flower friends and animals. Also, when Alice has tea with the mad hatter and the rabbit, everything is monotone and dreary, except the mad hatters red hair, red...

Words: 562 - Pages: 3