Hobart Isaacs, age 10, of Prescott, Ariz. for his question:

HOW LONG DOES A POLLIWOG LIVE?

A polliwog, which is more commonly called a tadpole, is a newly¬hatched frog or toad in its larva or early stage of growth. The tadpole stage of a frog or toad's life depends on the variety. It may last just a few weeks or it may remain a tadpole for up to two years.

Frogs and toads lay masses of eggs in quiet pools and streams. The tadpole develops soon. A round head is joined to the body in such a way. that it is almost impossible to tell which is the head and which is the body. It has a long, translucent tail which it uses for swimming.

The tadpole changes continuously, always looking more like the mature animal. Its head begins to take shape, it begins to grow back limbs and then front limbs, and its tail becomes shorter.

Finally, the tadpole loses its gills and absorbs its tail into its body. It then stops living under water and it becomes an air breathing animal.

The process of changing from tadpole to land living animal is called metamorphosis.