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220 miM.ETIN :il, VNITKI) STATKS NATIOKAL Ml'SKITM. 



by anatoiiiisrs. The first is tliiit tlii'ie is ii little lobe of skin forming 

 tlic anterior bonn(bir.v of the gill opening and ajiother forming the pos- 

 terior bonier. Tliese can be very eh)sel.v a|>plie(l to eaeli otlier, and seem 

 to form a very etlicient valvnlarappariitiis, b.v means of whicli tiiisnse- 

 less relic of its larval life may be (•lose<l np. The other striKitnre is con- 

 ne<!ted with the month. The lower lip is foiined of a fold of skin that 

 is separated from the skin of the throat by a deep groove that rnns 

 from the corner of the month to near the symidiysis. This fold has a 

 thin sharp edge, ami is directed downward anil ontward. The upper 

 lip also has a sharp edge, which, when the month is (closed, widely and 

 closely overlaps the lower lip. Tliis arrangement of the lips and that 

 of the gill opening seems to me to have relation to the burrowing habits 

 of these animals, and are designated to pre\ent the mouth andidiarynx 

 from being filled with mud. 



The eggs of the Amphinme an^ the most remarkable that I know of 

 as occurring anu)ng the Amphibians. 'I'ln^ young, which now constitute 

 the whole contents of the eggs, are sui rounded by a transparent <'ai)sule 

 about as thic^k as writing paper, and these capsules are coniu'cfed by a 

 slender cord of similar substance. It is as if the gelatinous mass sur- 

 rounding the «!ggs of tlie toad simuld become ('ondensed into a solid 

 covering and a connecting cord. Mow many strings there are of these 

 eggs 1 <!an not determine with certainty, on account of their being in- 

 extricably intertwined ; l>nt, since there are four ends visible, there are 

 probably two strings, one for each oviduct. For the same reason \ have 

 not been able to count the <'ggs. A careful estimate makes at fewest 

 ]')() of them. 



"The eggs in their present state an^ near' globular, and average 

 about 0""" in diameter. Their distance ai)art .wi the string varies from 

 .'itol-'"'"; fourteen of them vere counted on a i»ie<H> of the string 1> 

 inches long. At this rate the whole mass would lorm a string altout S 

 feet long. The connecting (uird varies from 1..")""" to one-half that di- 

 ameter. The eggs greatly resemble a string of large beads. 



"The young are coiled within the ca]»sMlcs in a spiral form. On re- 

 moving tiiem and straightening them they measure about 45""" in length. 

 The (iolor is dusky above, with indicationsof a darker dorj^al stripe, and 

 on each side a similar darker band. I'.clow the color is ))ale. The body 

 is proj)ortionaIly stouter than in the adult and tiie head broader. The 

 fore and the hind feet have <'acli three toes. 



"The young possess conspicuous gills ; and, since they are evidently 

 near the period <»f hatching, it is l)ut fair to suppose that they would 

 continue to retain these gills for some time after exclusion. The gills 

 are three in nundx'r on ea(!li side, and are simply pinnate in form. The 

 median gill is longest, measuring some (("'"' in length. I'rom its maiii 

 axis theie arise about ten delicate twigs. Tiie other gills aic somewhat 

 shorter, and give origin to about eiglit lateral twigs each. In all these 

 filaments may be seen thebloodvesscis lilled with the large blood-cor- 



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-'W':r._. 



