TAILLESS BATRACHIANS. 



41 



The Discoglussida differ from all the preceding families in pos- 

 sessing short ossified rudimentary ribs, and the vertebrae, instead 

 of being proeoelous, are opisthoccelous, two characters in which 

 they approach the Newts. They are represented by but few 

 species; among them the Fire-bellied Toad [Bombinator igneus), 

 so abundant in many parts of Germany, and the curious " Midwife 

 Toad " {Ahjtes obstetricans) , an inhabitant of Western Europe : the 

 latter owes its name to the assistance rendered by the male to his 

 mate during the deposition of the ova ; he then twists the strings 

 of ova rouud his legs and carries them until they reach maturity. 



The Amphignathodontid<B and Hemiphractidce, as well as the Ce- 

 ratobatrachidee of the series Fir mist ernia, are remarkable for pos- 

 sessing teeth in the lower as well as in the upper jaw. 



Fijr. 30 



Pipu americana (Surinam Toad). 



