TAILLESS BATKACHIANS. 



41 



The Discoglossida differ from all the preceding families in pos- 

 sessing short ossified rudimentary ribs, and the vertebrae, instead 

 of being procoelous, are opisthocoelous, two characters in which 

 they approach the Newts. They are represented by but few 

 species ; among them the Yellow- and Fire-bellied Toads (Bombi- 

 nator pachypus and B. igneus), so abundant in many parts of 

 Germany, and the curious " Midwife Toad " (Alytes obstetricans) , 

 an inhabitant of Western Europe : the latter owes its name to the 

 assistance rendered by the male to his mate during the deposition 

 of the ova ; he twists the strings of ova round his legs and carries 

 them until they reach maturity. 



The Amphignathodontidts and Hemiphractidce, as well as the 

 Ceratobatrachidce of the series Firmisternia, are remarkable for 

 possessing teeth in the lower as well as in the upper jaw. 



Pipa amencana (Surinam Toad). 



