296 



FROGS, TOADS, AND NEWTS 



[CH. VIII 



distension and greatly increase the apparent size of the 

 toads. It is probable that at this period the lungs subserve 

 a hydrostatic rather than a respiratory function, this last 

 being now adequately performed by the wet skin and the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth, perhaps assisted by the 

 vocal sac. After leaving the water the toads appear to 

 shrink in bulk owing to the return of the lungs to their 

 normal size. If however a specimen is thrown back into 

 the water, after spending a few days on land, it will at 

 once inflate its lungs and "swell visibly." 



Urodela (Tailed Amphibians). 



The three species of British Newts or Efts closely 

 resemble one another, so that their general characters and 

 habits may be described collectively. They differ from 



Fig. 50. Molge cristata, the Warty Eft. From Gadow. 



Female. 2. Male at the breeding season with the frills well 



developed. 



