320 TIIK TROPICAL WORLD. 



The giant-toad (Bufo glgas, agua) frequents the Brazilian 

 campos in such numbers that in the evening or after a shower 

 of rain, when they come forth from their hiding-places to regale 

 on the damp and murky atmosphere, the earth seems literally 

 to swarm with them. They are double the size of our common 

 toad, and are even said to attain, witli their outstretched hind 

 legs, a foot's length, with a proportionate girth. Covered with 

 unsightly warts, and of a dull grey colour, their aspect is re- 

 pulsive, and when excited, they eject a liquid which is very 

 much feared by the natives. Their voice is loud and disagree- 

 able ; while Gruinea possesses, in the Breviceps gibhosus, a small 

 toad which is said to sing delightfully, ' charming the swamps 

 with its melodious note.' 



A Brazilian tree-frog, (Hyla crepitans) which adheres to the 

 large leaves, not merely with its widened toes, but with its 

 constantly viscid body, has a voice which sounds like the 

 cracking of a large piece of wood, and generally proceeds from 

 many throats at a time. On wandering through the forests 

 of Brazil, Prince Maximilian of Neu Wied was often surprised 

 by this singular concert issuing from the dark shades of the 

 forest. 



A Surinam tree-frog {Hyla micans) has. the singular property , 

 of secreting a luminous slime, so as to look in the dark like a 

 yellowish will-o'-the-wisp. Its voice is most disagreeable, and 

 is said at times completely to overpower the orchestra of the 

 theatre in Paramaribo, thus emulating the stentorian achieve- 

 ments of the Virginian bull-frog. 



