350 THE VIVARIUM. 
burrows, and seem careful to make them so deep that the rays of 
the sun cannot reach them while they are in these places of 
retirement. 
P. fuscus has an eye with an erect pupil; a circular tongue, 
slightly nicked and free behind ; vomerine teeth (unlike a true 
Toad); a horny tubercle beneath the fifth toe, which forms a 
kind of shovel-shaped spur. The colour of the animal above is 
brown, marbled with dark brown, and the spur is yellowish- 
brown. On the upper surface of the fore-leg or arm of the male 
there is a large oval-shaped gland which is pierced by many small 
holes. There are no parotoid glands. 
This Batrachian, when fully grown, is from the snout to the 
vent about 4in. in length, and, while in captivity, may be 
associated with other Frogs and Toads of its size. Opportunity 
should be given it of making its burrow. The croak or cry of 
P. fuscus has no little resemblance to that of the Edible Frog 
(Rana esculenta). The Brown Mud Frog is occasionally brought 
to England, where, when in the market, it may be bought for 
from 6d. to 2s. There are generally specimens of this animal at 
the Reptile House, Regent’s Park, London. 
P. cultripes, the only other member of the genus, is chiefly dis- 
tinguished by the flatness of its head and the deep blackness of 
its metatarsal spur. It is found in the South of France, and in 
Spain and Portugal. 
The Painted Frog (Discoglossus pictus) is a typical representa- 
tive of the family Discoglosside, or the Disc-tongued Frogs. It 
is the only species of its genus. The tadpoles of this Frog are 
distinguished by having the spiraculum, or breathing aperture, 
situated in the middle of the thoracic region, while in all the 
tadpoles of the rest of the Phaneroglossa, or tongued tailless 
Batrachia, it is placed on the left side. 
The Painted Frog has a very depressed body ; an outline which 
is almost oval; vomerine teeth in almost a straight line across the 
palate, behind the inner opening of the nostrils; a tympanum 
either hidden or partially visible; a circular tongue, without 
nick, and only free at its hinder margin; the fingers free, the 
toes of the males fully webbed, while those of the female only 
webbed at their base, no discs; a rather prominent snout; and 
