238 ANOURA. 



ORDER I. ANOURA. 



{Frogs and Toads.) 



In the adult or perfect condition, the form of 

 these animals differs much from that common 

 to the Amphibia, the body being short, broad, 

 and flattened horizontally, and destitute of every 

 vestige of a tail. There are four limbs, well 

 developed, and furnished with toes, five on each 

 foot, but the thumb of the fore foot is a mere 

 tubercle ; the posterior limbs are longer than the 

 others, and are formed for leaping. The ribs are 

 totally w^anting ; the vertehrcB or joints of the 

 spine are few and soldered together. The tym- 

 "panum or drum of the ear is exposed. 



In the tadpole condition, the form is fish-like, 

 the body being lengthened, compressed, and ter- 

 minating in a long thin tail ; there are no limbs, 

 these being developed in the process of metamor- 

 phosis ; the water is the medium which the animal 

 in this its infancy inhabits, in which it swims 

 with ease, by the lateral undulation of its oar- 

 like tail. Respiration is performed by gills or 

 hranchice alone, which project on each side of 

 the neck in the form of little tufts. As the 

 period of the change approaches, these are 

 gradually withdra\\ai into the chest, and the 

 animal becomes an air-breathing Frog or Toad, 

 more or less terrestrial in its habits. 



The eggs are enveloped in a clear and tenacious 

 jelly, and are laid either in long strings, or in 



