462 CLASS REPTILIA. 



one branchial aperture on the left side. It is slow in passing 

 to the perfect state, and grows very large before it loses its 

 tail and gets its hinder feet ; so that when it quits the tad- 

 pole envelope, it appears somewhat diminished in size. It is 

 eaten in some places, as if it were a fish. 



M. de Lacepede considers as analogous to this species the 

 7'ana ridibunda of Pallas, which inhabits the waters of the 

 Volga and the Dural, near the Caspian Sea. Its cry resembles 

 a laugh, and its weight is sometimes half a pound. 



The hufo ohstetricans is found throughout all France. It 

 was first figured and described by M. A. Brogniart. It is 

 never seen in the water, not even at the time of reproduction. 

 The male assists the female in getting rid of her eggs, which 

 are tolerably large, and about sixty in number. He attaches 

 them in packets on both his thighs by means of certain 

 threads of a glutinous matter. He carries them every where 

 with him, taking all the necessary care for their preservation. 

 This affords a rare example of paternal attention in this class 

 of animals. 



At the end of some time, the eyes of the tadpole which 

 these eggs contain, are visible through their membranes, the 

 albuminous matter of which is more transparent and solid 

 than in the other species. When the young are about to be 

 excluded, the toad seeks out some stagnant water, and depo- 

 sits them there. They soon open, and the young animal 

 comes forth and swims immediately. 



A species, called hufo spinosus by Daudin, in consequence 

 of its having certain tubercles terminated by an obtuse cor- 

 neous sort of spine, is found in France, and particularly in 

 mountainous situations. It seems probable that to it may be 

 referred all the observations made upon monstrous toads in 

 Europe. 



This toad is never met with on the surface of the soil ; it 

 can only be procured by means of the plough, and the coun- 

 try people are persuaded that it never quits its retreat volun- 



