BATRACHIA. 195 



to the surface of bodies and to climb trees, where in fact they remain all 

 summer, living upon insects. They spawn, however, in water, and enter 

 the mud in water like other Frogs. There is a pouch under the throat of 

 the male, which dilates whenever he cries. 



Rana arborea, L. (The Common Tree-Frog.) Green above, pale be- 

 neath; a black and yellow line along each side of the body. They are adult 

 in four years. The Tadpole completes its metamorphosis in the month of 

 August. 



BUFO, Laur. 



Toads have a thick, bulky body covered with warts or papillae; a thick 

 lump behind the ears pierced with pores, from which issues a milky and 

 fetid humour; no teeth; the hind feet but slightly elongated. They leap 

 badly, and generally avoid the water. They are hideous and disgusting 

 animals, whose bite, saliva, &c., are considered, though erroneously, as poi- 

 sonous. 



There are now several subgenera, such as Rhinellus, Otilophis, Pipa, &c. 



SALAMANDRA, Brongn. 



Salamanders have an elongated body, four feet and a long tail, which gives 

 them the general form of Lizards, with which Linnseus placed them: but 

 they have all the characters of Batrachians. 



In their adult state, respiration is performed as in Frogs and Tortoises. 

 Their tadpoles at first breathe by means of branchiae resembling tufts, three 

 on each side of the neck, which are subsequently obliterated; they are sus- 

 pended to cartilaginous arches, vestiges of which remain in the hyoid bone 

 of the adult. A membranous operculum covers these openings, but the 

 tufts are never enclosed by a tunic, and always float externally. The fore 

 feet are developed before the hind ones; the toes appear successively in the 

 first and the last. 



SALAMAWDRA, Laur. 



The terrestrial Salamanders in a perfect state have a round tail, and in- 

 habit the water only during their tadpole condition, which is but a short 

 period, or when the female is ready to bring forth. The eggs are hatched 

 in the oviduct. 



TRITON, Laur. 



Aquatic Salamanders always retain the vertically compressed tail, and 

 pass nearly the whole of their existence hi the water. The experiments of 

 Spalknzani on their astonishing power of reproduction, have rendered 

 them celebrated. If a limb be amputated, another is reproduced in its stead 

 with all its bones, muscles, vessels, &c. and this takes place several times 

 in succession. Another not less singular faculty, discovered by Dufay, is 

 the power they possess of remaining enclosed in ice for a considerable time 

 without perishing. 



