BATRACHIA. 



that he had seen one of these animals thrown into 

 when the fire went out, it was found alive and lively in the 



In Europe there is another curious species found, bu1 

 in another direction. Our cut shows the form, and along tl 

 body may be seen some spines. These are really the < 

 ribs protruding through the skin . What the fund 

 not easy to see. It may be that these spines render the salamai 

 liable to be swallowed by birds and other animal.-, and thu< aid in 

 preservation of the species. 



Frogs and Toads. 



There are eight hundred different specie- of froga and i 

 whole world, and sixty in the United States. They reach the 

 forward batrachian development, and in their growth from the 

 parallel the succession of forms already mentioned. M 31 i f the - 

 lay their eggs in the water, and from them hatch out ' tadpoles,' which in 

 their early condition have gills and a tail, and thus resemble somewhat 

 miniature the Necturus figured on a preceding page, ka they in 

 in size, the gills are absorbed, and then the tadpoles to a certain extent 

 salamander-like. They differ, however, so far in the lit- from both I 

 forms mentioned, in lacking legs, and hence they haw to wrig 

 way along by the vibration of the tail. New the legs gi 

 the hinder pair appearing first as small buds, the front pair foil 

 little later. It is commonly said that the tail now dr< | 

 be a waste of just so much material, and nature is economical. 

 does not drop off, but is gradually absorbed, growing smaller day b 3 

 until at last the tadpole becomes a frog or toad. 



The tadpole is a vegetarian; his jaws are armed with hoi 

 suitable for scraping and gnawing all sorts of aquatic plants; i ndh 

 tine is very long, and coiled like a watch-spring in the body. 

 perfect condition is reached, all this is changed. He no* 

 and the intestine is proportionately greatly shorter. - 

 and toads go through these changes in a single season, or , 

 weeks, but others require a year; while by keepii Ipol 



poorly lighted place, like a cellar, they can be retarded i 

 P All of the frogs and toads do not go through all th< - 

 not all the eggs are laid in the water. In the West [n 

 toad which fastens its eggs to the leaves of tr 



stones; and in this case the perfect frog « 

 another species of tree-toad occurring in Peru th 



