—The world's biggest frog is the Goliath frog found in Cameroon, West Africa. It can reach nearly a foot long.

— One of the world's smallest frogs is the Gold Frog, found in Brazil. It grows to about 3/8th of an inch long.

— In Japan, frogs are the symbols of good luck. In India, frogs were believed to personify thunder in the sky. In Australia, frogs were considered bringers of rain. In China, they look for the "toad in the moon" rather than the "man in the moon."

— A group of fish is called a school. A group of geese is called a gaggle, but what about a group of frogs? They are called an army. As for toads, the grouping is a knot of toads.

— The cricket frog can leap 40 times its length in one jump.

— Male frogs are the ones that sing, which they do to attract females for mating.

Year of the Rat

2008 is the Year of the Rat in the Chinese zodiac. Some of the traits of individuals born during this year are being disciplined, meticulous, hardworking, charming, eloquent and shrewd. They also can be manipulative, selfish, overambitious and scheming.

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The First European Rare Disease Day. Feb. 29 has been set aside by the European Union as a day to focus attention on rare diseases and their impact on patients, families and communities.

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Sources: "Man & Time," J. B. Priestley (Crescent Books); "The Handy Answer Science Book," compiled by the Science and Technology Department of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Visible Ink Press); "On This Day" (Crescent Books); "On This Day in the Church: An Illustrated Almanac of the Latter-day Saints," by Richard N. Holzapfel, Alexander L. Baugh, Robert C. Freeman, Andrew H. Hedges (Eagle Gate); www.timeanddate.com; www.leapyearday.com; www.kiddyhouse.com/Themes/frogs/