6o4 



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 

 a symmetrical 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 Marsdpial 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, 



*^^^Sg/KtK^mta&. '^^'',*<2fc ^v \, ^ i and he hops forth, making excursions 



>™*i«I^^H™Hfc™HWs»Jit . m.-tk. 1 \ ■ I through every room in search of black- 



beetles, spiders, moths, or other accept- 

 able quarry. In this vermin-destroying 

 capacity he is a welcome guest to 

 all except perhaps the ultra-squeamish 

 housekeeper, his occasional oilence of 

 an upset glass or cup during his 

 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 GtREEN Fkog has determined 

 upon Ids 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 sj^ecies 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 



COMMON TOAD. 



The toad is highly appreciated "by the horticulturist on account of its utility in 

 destroying insect-pests. 



