206 



ANURA 



CHAP. 



" Phyllomcdusa does not lay its eggs in the water, although 

 the larva develops in that element, but in the open air in masses 



50 millim. long by 15-20 broad, 

 between leaves hanging over the 

 water. Willows are frequently used 

 for that purpose. The egg - mass 

 contains rather large white ova, 

 wrapped up between two or three 

 leaves in such a way as to be com- 

 pletely enveloped save an inferior 

 opening. My attempts at rearing 

 the eggs failed owing to the leaves 

 drying up ; but I am assured that 

 the tailed larvae may be seen wrig- 

 gling in the gelatinous mass. As 

 at a later period the latter is found 



Fig. 40. -a branch with eggs of empty, we must infer that the larvae 

 Phyiiomedusa iheringi, x 1, en- drop into the Water below. The 



veloped in the leaves. (After v. p ^ ^ i 



ihering.) 6ggs are lound only on plants 



hanging over stagnant water." 



" The adult animal is a stupid creature, and will let it^^elf be 

 taken without attempting to escape. Their moderately loud 

 voice resembles somewhat the sound produced by running the 

 finger nail over the teeth of a comb. Only during the breeding 

 season, in the month of January in Eio Grande do Sul, do these 

 frogs make their appearance ; at other times not one is to be seen, 

 probably because they establish themselves high up in the trees." 



Ayalychnis, with two species in Central America, is practi- 

 cally like Hyla ; but the pupil is vertical, and the tongue is 

 extensively free behind. 



Nyctimantis differs from either by its round tongue, which is 

 not nicked behind, and is almost completely adherent, much 

 resembling that of the Discoglossidae. The sacral diapophyses 

 are but slightly dilated. The only species, JSf. rugiceps, lives in 

 Ecuador, and grows to nearly three inches in length. The head 

 is large and rough owing to the skin being involved in the 

 cranial ossification. It is further peculiar in its coloration, the 

 under parts being chestnut -brown instead of whitish. The 

 iipper parts are olive-grey or brown. 



The following four genera, each represented by one or two species 



