TAILLESS BATRACHIANS 



229 



H. injrajrenata and H. huvieralis^ both of New Guinea, 

 are closely allied to the preceding species ; they are re- 

 markable for the males being provided with a sharp, bony 

 pointed process, situated, in the case of the former species, 

 in the middle of the breast bone, in the latter, on the inner 

 side of the forearms, secondary sexual characters which 

 must have some connection with the nuptial embrace. 



Many of the Tree-frogs of this genus have most interest- 

 ing breeding habits. In H. gceldii, of Brazil, and H. 

 cvansii, of British Guiana, the eggs, about twenty in 



—Hyla gaeldii, female with the eggs. 



{After Boulenger.) 



number, are carried by the female on her back. The 

 metamorphosis takes place within the ^gg, the young 

 emerging, but for a fairly longish tail, in the perfect state. 



H. faber, known as the " Ferreiro " or " Smith " in 

 Brazil, from its voice, which sounds like the regular beating 

 of metal plates, builds circular nurseries, surrounded by 

 walls of mud, in the shallow water of large ponds, and in 

 which the eggs are deposited and thus protected from 

 fishes and other enemies. These walls are built by the 

 female, who makes use of both belly and hands for the 

 purpose of smoothing the inside of the walls, and for the 

 levelling of the bottom of the enclosure. 



The Golden Tree-Frog, H. aurea^ of Australia, one of 



