364 



NA TURA L HIS TOR Y. 



back iii which the eggs are kept, until the tadpoles are hatched, and then 

 these escape into the water. 



Most remarkable of all in its reproductive habits is the Surinam toad. 

 This is a large form living in northern South America, with webbed hind 

 feet, and the fingers of the fore legs terminating in most curious lobes. 

 When the proper season comes round, the female lays her eggs, and the 

 male takes them and places them on her back. The eggs are surrounded 



Fig. 334. — Surinam toad (Pipa americana), with the young in the pits on the back. 



with a glutinous secretion which makes them adhere ; but this is not nec- 

 essary long ; for immediately the skin around each egg begins to thicken 

 up, thus enclosing it as in a cup, until finally a lid is developed which 

 closes the cup and keeps the egg from the air. Inside these cups the eggs 

 undergo their development, having first gills, and then appearing like 

 tadpoles with a well-developed tail ; and lastly, on reaching the frog stage, 

 forcing up the lids and escaping, as shown in the cut. 



Among the most useful animals to the gardener and agriculturist are 

 the oft-despised toads. The amount of noxious insects they will devour 



