Frogs in Australia find a cool spot under an insulator

Why Some News is Delayed

It is said that one of the great enemies of the overland telegraph line in Central Australia is the common green frog. In order to save the insulators from being broken by lightning they are provided with wire "droppers" leading round them at a little distance to conduct on to the iron pole In case of need.

The frogs climb the poles and find the insulators cool and pleasant to their bodies, and fancy that the "dropper" is put there to furnish them with a back seat.

After a nap they yawn and stretch out a leg until it touches the pole. Result, sudden death to the frog, and as the body continues to conduct the current to earth we see a paragraph in the papers to the effect that "In consequence of an interruption to the lines, probably caused by a cyclonic disturbance in the interior, we are unable to present our readers with the usual cables from England!"