CYSTIGNATHINAE 



217 



in size on the flanks. Each of these insular patches is sur- 

 rounded by a narrow line of white and yellow dots, interspersed 

 here and there with lines of rusty brown or red. The object of 

 this elaborate carpet-like pattern is concealment. These toads, — 

 and this applies to all the species, — bury themselves half in 

 the ground, preferably in the grass, where they are well-nigh 

 invisible. If there is not enough green vegetation, they throw, 

 with their feet, little lumps of earth upon their backs, the skin 



# \M^^-U-^ 



Fig. 44. — Ceratophrys ornata. (From jVature.) 



of which becomes at the same time more crinkled and assumes 

 duller tones. There the creature lies, perfectly concealed, 

 betrayed only by the metallic glittering eyes, waiting for some 

 unfortunate creature to pass into the trap represented by 

 the enormous mouth, which opens and shuts with lightning- 

 rapidity and with an audible snap. They seem to live 

 chiefly on frogs, and sometimes they turn cannibals. Two 

 specimens were brought over to me from Buenos Aires by a 

 friend, in a well-closed basket with moist soil at the bottom, but 

 only one was visible on arrival. The other was inside the 



