Sir/

I take the liberty of addressing you upon the subject of a frog, found in a seam of coal; thinking it may interest you to hear it, should you not already be aware of the incident, for it is alleged that such reptiles cannot live without food or air.

Some years ago a frog, measuring about 1$\frac{1}{2}$ inches long, was found, alive, in a lump of coal, taken from a colliery in South Wales, & upon examination was found to have a mark denoting where its mouth sh^d. be which was closed, & was in appearance similar to a healed cut upon the human body, but was otherwise, to all appearance perfectly, formed— It was, subsequently, placed in a glass bottle & hermetically sealed up but died a short time afterwards. The cause of death not being discovered.¹

It was a mystery to all who saw it, as to how, & for how long, it had lived, having no natural means of taking food, & the depth it was found at, made it doubtful, as to its obtaining air: hence it was generally supposed, it had lived without either.²—a statement which if it could be proved, would be of interest to you, perhaps, as well as to other naturalists

Trusting you will pardon the liberty I take in addressing you, & hoping the incident may interest you. | I am, Sir, | Yr. Obedient Servant | Frank Hurndall

Professor Darwin.