206 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
observed of examples of these frogs acclimatised in a conservatory that the falling of heavy rain 
on the roof is an almost certain incentive to their croakings. By pouring water resonantly 
from a little height into another vessel, the writer also found that he could produce a frog 
chorus at command. 
The European and other tree-frogs deposit their eggs in the water, some species constructing 
asymmetrical crater-like nest of mud for the reception of the eggs and tadpoles. Certain kinds, 
however, never leave the trees, having adapted their requirements to the naturally provided 
environments. Thus one Brazilian species deposits its eggs in the water almost invariably 
contained in the central cup of a tree, while another allied frog chooses for the same purpose 
the moist interstices at the bases of decaying banana leaves. A step further, resulting in 
complete independence of external water, is arrived at by the MARSUPIAL or POUCHED TREE- 
FROG of Central America. In this species the female develops a capacious pouch on her back, 
which opens backward, and wherein both the eggs — primarily assisted to their position by the 
: . male — and tadpoles undergo their 
| characteristic transformations. 
| As a contrast to the foregoing 
exclusively tree-dwelling forms, one 
very fine species common in Queens- 
land has pronounced social proclivities. 
He is a fine fellow, with a bright 
pea-green coat and large, lustrous black 
eyes, and either with or without your 
leave invades your bedroom from the 
adjoining verandah, and makes the 
lip of your water-jug his headquarters. 
Here he will “lie low” the livelong 
day. With the approach of night, 
however, this lethargy is thrown aside, 
and he hops forth, making excursions 
through every room in search of black- 
beetles, spiders, moths, or other accept- 
able quarry. In this vermin-destroying 
nes bie iy o ae is ; By 9s capacity he is a welcome guest to 
Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.) [Parsen’s Green all except perhaps the ultra-squeamish 
COMMON TOAD housekeeper, his occasional offence of 
The toad is highly appreciated by the horticulturist on account of 1s utility in anh oMpers glass or cup during his 
destroying insect-pests excited chase of the wily cockroach 
being readily condoned. He has a 
playful habit too, during his midnight wanderings, of climbing up walls and ceilings, to which 
he readily clings with his adhesive toes, and mayhap drops down on the recumbent form of 
some peaceful sleeper, who, if a stranger, possibly wakes with an alarming apprehension of 
snakes or other uncanny intruders. When once this QUEENSLAND GREEN FROG has determined 
upon his camping-ground, he clings to it with remarkable pertinacity. You may deport him 
time after time, and even carry him half a day’s journey into the wilderness, but he turns up 
again the next morning or the following one. 
Toads are distinguished from frogs by their sluggish creeping movements and by 
their non-possession of teeth. There are over eighty species, having collectively an almost 
cosmopolitan range, though they are not found in Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar, or 
the Pacific Islands. The common British species enjoys a wide distribution, being found 
throughout Europe, Asia excepting India, and North-west Africa. Its somewhat clumsy, brown, 
wrinkled, and warted body, with darker spots and markings on the upper-surface and white- 
speckled under-surface, will be familiar to every reader. With many it is an unwarranted 
