i S o THE SURINAM TOAD. 



and others dissected so as to show the cells and their structure. After the whole 

 brood have left their mother's back, the cells begin to fill up again, closing from below 

 as well as from above, and becoming irregularly puckered on the floors. The cells in 

 the middle of the back are the first developed ; the whole process occupies rather 

 more than eighty days. 



As its name implies, this singular creature inhabits Surinam, but is also found in 

 various parts of Central America. In spite of its repulsive aspect, the negroes are 

 said to eat its flesh. 



The color of the Surinam Toad is brownish olive above, and whitish below. The 

 skin is covered with a large number of tiny and very hard granules, among which are 



SURINAM TOAD.-P/pa Americana. 



interspersed some horny tubercular projections. The snout is of a very curious shape, 

 the nostrils being lengthened into a kind of leathery tube. The throat of the male is 

 furnished with a very large bony apparatus, of a triangular box-like shape, and within 

 are two movable pieces by which the voice is modulated. 



WE now come to the Batrachians with tongues. In the greater number of these 

 creatures, the tongue is fastened to the front of the mouth and free behind, the tip 

 pointing down the throat. The prey is taken by the rapid throwing forward of this 

 tongue, and its equally rapid withdrawal into the mouth, carrying the doomed creature 

 on its tip, with such celerity that the eye can hardly follow the movement. 



The skeleton of the adult Frog is worthy of a short notice before we proceed to the 



