PIPA. 261 



covered with reddish tubercles. It has a granu- 

 lated back, with three longitudinal ranges of 

 larger granules. It inhabits cellars and obscure 

 corners of houses in Guiana, and other parts 

 of South America, where, notwithstanding its 

 repulsive aspect, its flesh is eaten with relish 

 by the negroes. 



The continuation of the species in this Rep- 

 tile is attended with phenomena no less extra- 

 ordinary than its figure. The female presents 

 at certain times the strange spectacle of a great 

 number of young ones in various stages of deve- 

 lopment, lodged in or proceeding from cells 

 dispersed over the upper surface of her body. 

 It was at one period supposed that the eggs 

 were produced in these cells, and not deposited 

 in the usual manner ; but it is now known 

 that the female deposits her spawn at the edge 

 of some stagnant pool, where the male, collecting 

 it with great care, places it on the broad and 

 flat back of his mate. The presence of the 

 ova is believed to produce a sort of suppuration, 

 whereby a number of pits or circular cells are 

 formed in the substance of the skin ; these 

 are about half an inch in depth anxl a quarter 

 of an inch in diameter. Each of these having 

 received an egg, closes over it, and thus the 

 skin resembles the closed cells of a honey-comb. 

 The cells are formed only in the substance of 

 the skin, which is thickened for the purpose, 

 and do not penetrate to the muscles beneath. 

 The true skin is indeed separated from the 

 muscles by large reservoirs of fluid. 



The female Pipa, having received her burden, 

 retires into the water ; and in due time the 



