28 STORY OF THE AMPHIBIANS 



come into play. The spur-toed frogs noted as having 

 claws on hind feet can probably scratch severely. 



Salamanders when teased turn themselves sud- 

 denly like caterpillars and snap their jaws at the dis- 

 turbing object. In general there is no such vicious- 

 ness found in the amphibians as prevails in the 

 reptiles, where the enemy is sometimes pursued and 

 a bulldog kind of grip is often taken. 



This sudden bending of the body is a favorite 

 means of leaping by some tailed forms. 



Skin-Secretions 



As means of defense skin-secretions prevail more 

 largely in amphibians than elsewhere, though some 

 low mammals, as the opossums, possess them. In no 

 case are such secretions agreeable to an enemy, but 

 snakes do not seem to care for that of the toad, though 

 it is nauseating to a dog. That of the brilliant little 

 South American frog has been mentioned. The skin- 

 secretion in the salamanders is very great. The an- 

 cients thought that it could resist fire — perhaps because 

 this quantity of ooze might protect it a little. They 

 thought the secretion deadly and blasting — even to 

 vegetation. They imagined that it produced all sorts 

 of spells even at long range. We now know that this 

 is a fallacy, but its slime is really poisonous to lizards 

 and small things which may get it in the mouth. So 

 there may be a grain of truth in many myths. The 

 impression prevails among many persons that the 

 secretion of toads produces warts. Its own back is 

 pointed out as a proof. But the wartlike lumps there 



