102 TYPES OF ANIMAL LIFE 



has a row of teeth along the margin of the upper jaw. 

 The toad has an oblong prominence behind each eye, 

 from which a milky fluid exudes, which is very un- 

 pleasant to dogs, as they show by a copious flow of 

 saliva and many headshakings if they happen to have 

 seized a toad and have so come to taste this secretion. 

 It exercises a very decided effect upon certain animals, 

 since the tadpoles of frogs are very powerfully affected 

 by being kept in the same water as a toad, if the 

 latter be irritated and so made to discharge this 

 fluid. 



A frog (Pelobates Juscus) which is common in France 

 and quite harmless, has, nevertheless, a singular provision 

 for self-defence. If it be seized or its leg pinched, two 

 effects follow : It utters a sound like the mewing of a cat, 

 and emits a vapour which smells of garlic strongly 

 enough to make the eyes water, as mustard or horse- 

 radish will do. 



This vapour and the toad's secretion are the nearest 

 approach to venomous products which any members of 

 the frog's order possess. 



A small European frog, named Alytes obstetricans, has 

 a very curious habit in connection with the regular life- 

 history of the species. The female lays her eggs so that 

 they adhere together in the form of a long chain. The 

 male then twines this chaplet of his wife's eggs round 

 and round his thighs till he acquires the aspect of a 

 gentleman of the court of the time of James I. arrayed 

 in puffed breeches. After having thus encumbered 

 himself, he retires, at least during the day, in some 

 burrow, till the period arrives when the young are 

 ripe for quitting the egg. Then he seeks the water, 

 into which he has not long plunged when the young 

 burst forth and swim away, after which he makes himself 



