81 



thoroughly established themselves in this country : the green Tree- 

 frog {H>/la arborea) and the Midwife Toad {Abjtea obfitetricaus'j both 

 from the other side of the Channel. 



The Tree-frog, remarkable for its bright green colour and climb- 

 ing habits, has been introduced from France in some parts of the 

 Isle of Wight, where it has multiplied to such an extent as to be a 

 nuisance to many people, who, however much they may admire its 

 graceful shape and attractive coloration, are disturbed at night by 

 its very loud croaking from April to July. 



The Midwife Toad, a small nocturnal Batrachian with large eye 

 and cat-like erect pupil, unquestionably the most interesting 

 European representative of the whole class, has established itself, 

 no one knows how, in a former nursery garden in Bedford ; it has 

 been there for many years, and a friend of mine found it still in 

 plenty last summer. Its presence is revealed by its whistling note, 

 which suggests the sound'of a small bell, or a chime when uttered, 

 as is usually the case, by a number of individuals, and is produced 

 chiefly in the evening and at night. This so-called Toad, a member 

 of the very distinct family Di^coi/loxsidae, furnishes an interesting 

 example of parental solicitude, the male taking charge of the eggs, 

 which are large and few and strung together like a rosary, im- 

 mediately after oviposition on land, not in the water as in most 

 other Batrachians. After extraordinary contortions, which it has 

 been my good fortune to witness on several occasions, the male 

 fastens the string of eggs round its hind limbs and carries them for 

 a period of about six weeks, when he betakes himself to the water 

 for the purpose of releasing his progeny, which escapes from the 

 egg-capsules in the tadpole condition. 



