256 



FROGS, TOADS, AND NEWTS 



[CH. VIII 



Month 



January 



February 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September 



October 



November 



December 



weight of whose liver is greater than that of the male, but 

 with a slight recovery in March and in May by the male. 

 It is probable that this general difference depends upon 

 the fact that the ovaries of the female make a great and 

 continuous, demand upon her system throughout the whole 

 period of maturation, so that in spite of renewed feeding 

 in the Spring there is no recuperation in the liver. In the 

 male, however, there is no such continuous drain but rather 

 a sudden call upon the reserves at the actual time of 

 pairing a call due not only to the discharge of the 

 spermatozoa but also to the muscular exertions of the 

 male at that season. This call is marked in vigour by the 

 sudden reduction of the liver to rather less than half its 

 weight in June. 



Reserves of food are also laid up in the fat-bodies. 

 These have no direct connexion with the digestive system, 

 but may conveniently be dealt with here. They are bright 

 yellow, finger-like bodies grouped in front of the testes or 



