AMPHIBIANS. 207 



directed towards the animal's throat, while, when it wishes 

 to seize an insect, the tongue is thrown forward with extreme 

 rapidity, turning on its root as on a hinge, and returning in 

 the same way bearing the prey adhering to it. The eggs of 

 Amphibians differ from those of Reptiles in being devoid of 

 the investing membranes round the embryo, known as am- 

 nion and allantois. In this, and in the fact that they are 

 fecundated after extrusion, they resemble the ova of Fishes. 

 In brief, it may be said that the Amphibia are intermediate 

 in character between the Reptiles and Fishes in the adult 

 state they most nearly resemble the former ; in the tadpole 

 state, the latter. Many years ago the writer made a special 

 study of the development of Frogs, Toads, and Newts, and 

 as he has found that the subject is one about which little 

 seems to be generally known, he trusts he may be excused 

 for describing it at some length. All the Amphibia are ter- 

 restrial in the adult state, but they all deposit their eggs in 

 water, generally such as is of a stagnant character. There 

 is no union of the sexes, but, in Frogs and Toads as in 

 Fishes the milt is deposited upon the e^gs at the same time 

 that they are extruded into the water. In Newts, the packets 

 of spermatozoa, as they are deposited, are conveyed by the 

 females into their own reproductive chambers. While 

 this is going on Frogs and Toads keep up a loud and 

 incessant croaking and, to an onlooker, it will be a 

 matter of surprise to find that there are so many of 

 these creatures existing in his own neighbourhood. On two 

 occasions the writer has seen toads assemble in crowds that 

 might be estimated at many hundreds, if not thousands, 

 although, in the same district, at any other time, it would be 

 hard to find a dozen individuals. On examination it will be 

 found that this vast assemblage consists almost entirely of 



