316 J. S. BUDGETT. 



six days the embryo increases from 2 mm. (the diameter of the 

 egg) to 9 or 10 mm., when it leaves the leaf as a transparent 

 glass-like tadpole whose only conspicuous part is its eyes (fig. 

 30). These are very large and of a bright metallic green 

 colour, so that when swimming in the water all that is seen 

 are pairs of jewel-like eyes. 



The newly hatched tadpole has also a bright metallic spot 

 between the nostrils somewhat in front of the pineal spot. 

 This is the point which touches the surface of the water when 

 the tadpole is in its favourite position. Whether it is a pro- 

 tective coloration, or some mechanical arrangement for hold- 

 ing the surface, I cannot say. 



The leaves containing the eggs are not always directly over 

 waterj and the newly hatched tadpole has often to make his 

 way many inches to the water. 



This migration to the water usually takes place during a 

 shower of rain, when the larvae tend to be washed into the 

 pool, but they also assist themselves by jumping several inches 

 into the air. They are intensely sensitive to liglit and shock. 



During the embryonic development the jelly surrounding 

 the embryo becomes more and more dilated by the growth of 

 the embryo, and also by the accumulation of fluid within. 

 Towards the close of embryonic life the embryo comes to lie 

 quite freely within a membranous capsule. 



The eggs are very heavily yolked, and some yolk persists 

 until the tadpoles are ready to leave the capsule. 



Ou the third day external gills are well developed, and the 

 red blood-corpuscles may be seen coursing through them, and 

 the heart beating rapidly. These external gills reach their 

 highest state of development about the fifth day, when they 

 extend beyond the vent, and are of course bright red (fig. 27). 



The tadpole is hatched without a trace of yolk, the external 

 gills have completely disappeared, there is a median spiracle, 

 and the lungs are already clearly visible shining through the 

 transparent body-wall (fig. 30). 



The day after the tadpoles are set free, pigment begins to be 

 developed about the head and upper surface of the body. 



