TAILLESS BATRACHIANS. 



41 



The Discoglossidm 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 Orange- 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 Amphignathodontidee and Hemiphr act idee, as well as the Ce- 

 ratobatrachida of the series Firmisternia, are remarkable for pos- 

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



Fi<r. 





Pipa americana (Surinam Toad). 



