444 



AMPHIBIA— ORDER I.-ECAUDATA. 



Family 



Discoglossidce. 



The sixth family of the present sub-order includes four genera, with a very 

 small number of species, and is confined to the northern half of the 

 Eastern Hemisphere and New Zealand. These frogs, which 

 have teeth in the upper jaw, and the extremities of the trans- 

 verse processes of the sacral vertebra expanded, are specially 

 distinguished by the retention of rudimental ribs. To this 

 family belong the painted frog (Discoglosms pictiis) from the south of Europe 

 and Algeria, and the fire -bellied frog {Bombinator igneus) of Europe and 

 Asia, the latter having a triangular pupil to the eye, an adherent tongue, 

 and no drum to the ear. The under-parts are mottled with orange or yellow, 

 and the croak is very loud. The two European species of midwife- frogs 

 (Alytes) are so named from the circumstance that the male takes the chains 

 of eggs laid by the female and winds them round his hind-legs. After 

 remaining concealed in a hole till the eggs are mature, he enters the water, 

 when the tadpoles burst their shells. 



These two small Tropical American families differ from all the other mem- 

 Families Hemi- ^^^^ of the sub-order in possessing teeth in both jaws, the 

 phractidce and first of the two having the extremities of the horizontal 

 Amphir/natho- transverse processes of the sacral vertebra cylindrical, 

 dontidce. whereas in the second they are expanded. 



Sub-Order III. — Aglossa. 



The two genera and families by which alone this sub-order is represented 

 differ from both the other subordinal groups in the complete absence of the 

 tongue. 



The three African species of spur-toed frogs (Xenopus) are sufficiently dis- 

 tinguished by possessing teeth in the upper jaw and the presence of spur- 

 like nails on three 

 Family of the toes of the 



Xenopodidce. hind - feet, which 

 are fully webbed. 

 Their tadpoles, which are born of 

 large size, and without external 

 gills, are furnished with a pair of 

 barbels to the upper jaw. 



The well-known Surinam water- 

 toad, or pipa (Pipa americana), of 

 the Guianas and 

 Family Brazil, is the only 



Pipidoi. member of this 



family, which is 

 characterised by both jaws being 

 toothless. Externally, the pipa may 

 be recognised by its short and tri- 

 angular head, which is furnished 

 with a large flap of skin at each corner of the mouth, and has very minute eyes. 

 The four front toes are quite free, and terminate in expanded star-like tips, 

 but a large web unites all the five toes of the hind-foot. In any state the 

 creature is ugly, but when the female is carrying her nursery about with her 

 she is repulsive. Soon after they are laid, the eggs are taken up by the male 



Fig. 10.— Surinam Water-Toad 

 {Pipa americana). 



