THE PIPA. 43 



mals at different periods might be examined. By 

 these means alone some certain conclusions might 

 be drawn respecting a circumstance which, at pre- 

 sent, seems to surpass the powers of comprehen- 

 sion. 



THE PIPA*. 



The Pipa is a native of Surinam, and at first view 

 appears an extremely hideous and deformed ani- 

 mal. It is considerably larger than our Toad, has 

 a flattish body, and a somewhat triangular head. 

 The mouth is very wide, and furnished at the edges 

 or corners with a kind of cutaneous appendage. 

 The fore-feet have four long and thin toes, each 

 divided at the tip into four distinct parts, which, 

 when inspected with a magnifier, are found to be 

 each again obscurely subdivided almost in a similar 

 manner. The hind-feet have five toes united by a 

 web. 



This creature, in the production of its young, 

 affords a very singular deviation from the usual 

 course of nature. On the back of the female are 

 formed certain cavities, opening outward, and 

 somewhat resembling the cells of a bee-hive. 

 They are of a circular form, about half an inch 

 deep, and each nearly a quarter of an inch in dia- 

 meter. They are at a little distance from each 



* Synonyms. — Rana Pipa. Linn.— Le Pipa, ou Cururu. La 

 Cefede,— .Surinam Toad.— — Sbaiv's Gen. looU 'vol. iii. tak> 5°> 5 1 * 



