DEVELOPEMENT OF THE BATKACHIA. , .'391 



obliterated. The true gills, or hrancldce^ are con- 

 tained within the body, are four in number on each 

 side, and are constructed on a plan very similar to 

 those of fishes. Retaining this aquatic constitu- 

 tion, the tadpole rapidly increases in size and in 

 activity for several weeks. In the mean time the 

 legs, of which no trace was at first apparent, have 

 commenced their growth. The hind legs are the 

 first to make their appearance, showing their em- 

 bryo forms within the transparent coverings of the 

 hinder part of the trunk, just at the origin of the 

 tail. These are soon succeeded by the fore legs, 

 which exactly follow the hind legs in all the stages 

 of their developement, until they have acquired 

 their due proportion to the size of the trunk. The 

 animal, at this period, wears a very ambiguous 

 appearance, partaking of the forms both of the 

 frog and of the lizard, and swimming both by the 

 inflections of the tail, and the irregular impulses 

 given by the feet. This interval is also employed 

 by this amphibious being, in acquiring the faculty 

 of respiring atmospheric air. We observe it rising 

 every now and then to the surface, and cultivating 

 its acquaintance with that element, into which it is 

 soon to be raised ; occasionally taking in a mouth- 

 ful of air, which is received into its newly de- 

 veloped lungs, and afterwards discharging it in the 

 form of a small bubble. When the necessary in- 

 ternal changes are at length completed, prepara- 

 tions are made for getting rid of the tail, which is 

 now a useless member, and which, ceasing to be 

 nourished, diminishes by degrees, leaving only a 

 short stump, which is soon removed. The gills are 

 by this time shrunk, and ra])idly disappear, their 



