340 



THE MUSEUM. 



entire metamorphoses while in the 

 pouch. 



Our own toads deposit their eggs in 

 long albuminous strings having the ap- 

 pearance of a necklace of black beads. 

 The eggs of the frogs and salamanders 

 are deposited in more or less globular 

 masses of the albuminous substance. 

 We may distinguish the eggs of the 

 salamanders from those of the frogs, 

 for the former have a circular outer 

 envelope which surrounds each egg. 



The tadpoles of the toad, unlike 

 those of the frog and salamander, re- 

 tain their early black color throughout 

 their larval state. They also undergo 

 their metamorphoses while much 

 smaller than the frog. The toad tad- 

 poles take on the adult form when 

 they are literally not larger than peas. 

 At this stage they leave the water in 

 great numbers and make long journeys 

 in every direction, traveling mostly at 

 night, but often emerging from their 

 hiding-places after a rain, thus giving 

 rise to the suspicion that they have 

 fallen with the rain. 



The hylidse ar tree-toads lay their 

 eggs in the water, in small pockets, 

 and not in strings as do the other 

 toads. They also undergo their met- 

 amorphoses while small. One of the 

 Mexican tree-toads is said to deposit 

 its eggs in the water which accumul- 

 ates in the axils of leaves and to un- 

 dergo its changes high above the 

 ground. 



In the spring of the year nearly 

 every pond and pool will be found on 

 careful search to contain numerous 

 masses of albuminous jelly filled with 

 eggs in various stages of development. 

 Nothing is more interesting than to 

 bring home these eggs and watch them 

 develop from day to day. Whether 



they be the eggs of frogs or salamand- 

 ers, or the strings of toad's eggs, we 

 shall see .them all hatch into lively 

 little tadpoles. We can scarcely hope 

 to keep the frog or salamander tad- 

 poles until their legs bud forth and 

 they become ready to live on land, for 

 it requires too long a time, but we may 

 keep the toad tadpoles and watch the 

 limbs gradually appear and the tail dis- 

 appear until the adult form is reached. 

 The little tadpoles will devour the 

 slime which gather on the sides of the 

 aquarium, and they will also suck the 

 juices of raw meat. They grow rapidly 

 and in a short time acquire legs and 

 lose their tails, and, though still no 

 larger than peas, they are perfectly 

 formed toads ready to take up a ter- 

 restrial life. — F. P. G., in Outdoor 

 World. 



Sea Horse from New Jersey Coast. 



Instructions Relative to Shipping 

 Fresh Fish and Other Animals 



The specimens selected should al- 

 ways be the most perfect procurable, 



