302 THE VIVARIUM. 
member of the Discoglosside. Though the English name of this 
Batrachian is not very euphonious, the creature itself is very 
interesting. It is extremely hardy, and soon becomes perfectly 
tame. B. cgneus is now brought into England in considerable 
numbers, and may be generally bought for sums ranging from 
6d. to 1s. 6d. each. It will eat worms, flies, slugs, tadpoles; and 
mealworms greedily. It is also fond of spending its time in 
water, keeping only its eyes and nostrils above the surface, ready 
at the slightest sign of danger to dive below. Its movements on 
land are unusually clumsy. Lord Clermont says that this 
Batrachian, ‘‘ when frightened and unable to escape, raises its 
legs towards its head, throwing the latter back in a ridiculous 
manner, and squirting from the vent a frothy acrid fluid.” 
Though I have kept these frogs for several years, I have never 
noticed this habit of which the author speaks. Bb. cqgneus spawns 
during May and June, and its tadpoles are remarkable for their 
size IN comparison with that of their parents, and also for 
the development of their tail-fin. I believe that the Fire-bellied 
Toad would breed in captivity if provided with a large tank. It 
is a native of Europe and Asia, but it is not found at liberty in 
Britain. 
B. igneus has an eye with a triangular pupil ; a tongue which is 
circular, entire, and adherent to the bottom of the mouth; 
vomerine teeth; no tympanum; a stout build, a short, rounded 
snout; the fingers free, the toes webbed, and no discs. The 
upper parts of the body are covered with warts of different sizes ; 
the lower parts are smooth, or nearly so. The colour above is 
olive, pleasingly marbled with black, or uniform ; below it is a rich 
orange colour, marbled with black. The male has no vocal sac, 
but it is provided during the breeding season with black rugosities 
on the inner side of the forearm, the inner metacarpal tubercle, 
and the two inner fingers. 
There is a variety of B. cgneus, or perhaps it may be a distinct 
species altogether, known as the Yellow-bellied Toad (B. bombinus), 
which is yellow below, marbled with black. This Batrachian is 
said to be found at higher elevations than is its near relative 
B. wneus. Both the varieties or species are easily purchased in 
London during the spring and summer months. 
