374 



TAILLESS BATRACHIANS. 



ditches and ponds, in which it may be seen throughout the summer, 

 crawling on the bottom, climbing the stems of plants, swimming 

 with a wriggling motion through the water, or coming to the surface 

 to breathe the air. The male frequently displays the under-surface 

 of his body, which is of a rich orange, studded over, as is the olive- 

 coloured back, with round black spots. His tail in spring time is 

 bordered with a fin-like expansion, and is often tipped with bright 

 red and violet. The female deposits her eggs on the leaves of aquatic 

 plants, which she folds up in a curious manner, and glues together 

 as a protection to the soft and shell-less eggs. There is a curious 

 superstition current among the Irish peasantry : They believe that 

 this Newt has a propensity to jump down their throats, make a 

 lodging in their stomach, and to multiply there in a frightful manner. 

 The remedy is to find a stream running directly south, and to 

 lean over it with the mouth open, when the " efts " will come out, 

 one by one, and plunge into ihe water ! 



TAILLESS BATRACHIA (Anoura)* 



The total absence of the least vestige of a tail, and 

 their short, squat, broad shape, their great heads, 

 huge mouths, and strong muscular limbs, are suffi- 

 cient to identify Frogs and Toads anywhere, espe- 



FlG. 305. PROG. 



a, a, without ; ovpd, oura, a tail. 



