THE MARBLED TREE-TOAD. 167 



In the Pouched Frog we find a most singular example of structure, the female being 

 furnished with a ]Jouch on her back, in wliich the eggs are placed when hatched, and carried 

 about for a considerable period. 



This pouch is clearly analogous to the living cradle of the marsupial animals. It is not 

 merely developed when wanted, as is the case witli the.cells on the back of the Surinam Toad, 

 but is permanent, and lined with skin like tliat of tlie back. The pouch does not attain its 

 full development until the creature is of mature age, and the male does not possess it at all. 

 When filled with eggs the pouch is much dilated, and extends over the whole back nearly as 

 far as the back of the head. The opening is not easily seen without careful examination, 

 being very narrow, and hidden in folds of the skin. 



Its color is very variable, but green has the predominance. It is found in Mexico, but 

 many specimens have been brought from the Andes of Ecuador. 



Avert curious species, called the Lichened Tree-Toad {Traoliyceplmlus licliendtus\ 

 inhabits Jamaica, and is described by Mr. Gosse in his "JSTaturalist's Sojourn" in that island. 



It derives its name from the aspect of the head, which looks as if it was overgrown with 

 lichens. It is generally found among the wild pine trees, and is very active, being able to 

 take considerable leaps. Sometimes it puffs out its body, and causes a- kind of frotliy 

 moisture to exhale from the skin. This moisture adheres to the fingers like gum, and causes 

 the Frog to leave a trail behind it like that of a snail or slug. 



The color of the Lichened Tree-Toad is pale red mottled with brown, and having a large 

 patch of the same color between the shoulders. The muzzle and sides are pale green, spotted 

 with dark reddish -brown, and below it is whitish-gray, the chin being speckled with reddish- 

 brown. The head is flattened, sharply pointed at the muzzle, and studded with sharp bony 

 ridges. Its ordinary length is about four inches. 



Another species of the same genus, tlie Marbled Tree-Toad [Trachycephalus marmo- 

 rdtus), is described by the same writer : — 



"One of them was taken in a bedroom at Savannah -le-Mar, one night in October, having 

 probably hopped in at the open window from the branches of a mango tree only a few feet 

 distant. I was surprised at its change of coloi", in this respect resembling the chameleon and 

 anoles, or still nearer, the geckos. 



"When I obtained it, the whole upper parts were of a ricli deep amber-brown, with 

 indistinct black bands. On looking at it at night, to my surprise I saw a great alteration 

 of hue. It was paler on the head and back, though least altered there ; on tlie rumj) and 

 on the fore and hind legs it was become a sort of semi-pellucid drab, marked with minute 

 close-set dark specks. When disturbed, it presently became slightly j^aler still, but in a few 

 minutes it had recovered its original dejith of tint. In the course of half an liour it displayed 

 again the speckled dark hue, and now uniformly so, save a black irregular patch or two on 

 the head, and a dark patch between the mouth and each eye. The belly, which was very 

 regularly shagreened, was of a dull buff, not susceptible of change. Its eyes retained their 

 ])roverbiaI beauty, for the irides were of a golden-brown tint, like sun-rays shining through 

 tortoise-shell. 



"This specimen was about as large as a middling English Frog, being two inches and a 

 quai'ter in length. 



"While in captivity, if unmolested, it spent a good deal of time motionless, squatting 

 flat and close, with shut eyes, as if sleeping, but sometimes it was active. I kept it in a basin 

 covered with a. pane of glass, for facility of observation. It would keep its face opposite the 

 window, altering its position pertinaciously if the basin were turned, though ever so gently. 

 It took no notice of cockroaches, nor of a large fiesh-fly which buzzed about it, and even 

 crawled over its nose. If taken in the hand, it struggled vigorously, so as to be with difficulty 

 held ; once or twice, while thus struggling, it uttered a feeble squeak ; but if still retained, 

 it would at length inflate the abdomen with air, apparently a sign of anger. It leaped, but 

 not far." 



