TAILED AMPHIBIANS 261 



green, but it may also assume an olive green, blackish-green, brown, grey, 

 and almost white colour. When surprised by an enemy, the tree frog 

 further protects itself by pressing its body close against a leaf or the 

 trunk of a tree, from which in such cases it is scarcely to be distinguished. 

 The animal is enabled to climb about on plants by means of adhesive or 

 sucking discs on the ends of its toes. By pressing these as well as the 

 whole under side of the body firmly against the underlying object, the tree 

 frog maintains a very firm hold, being able to cling with safety even to 

 swaying leaves or glass walls (power of adhesion). The call-note of the 

 male, which sounds like " epp-epp," is intensified by a large vocal sac 

 prominent on the throat. The tree frog winters beneath moss, in holes, 

 or in the water, where its larvae also undergo their development. 



ORDER II. : TAILED AMPHIBIANS (URODELA). 



Body elongated ; always provided with a tail, with two pairs of limbs 

 (the posterior pair absent in exceptional cases). 



The Spotted Salamander (Salamandra maculosa). 



(Length up to 9 inches.) 



In most animals the body is of such a colour as to enable the creature 

 to escape the notice of its enemies as far as possible. (Examples.) The 

 colour of the salamander's skin, on the other hand, is in the highest 

 degree conspicuous. This is, however, by no means a disadvantage to 

 the animal, for its skin secretes an acrid, poisonous fluid, which has a 

 fatal effect upon birds and small mammals. When the salamander is 

 alarmed or pressed, this fluid is ejected in drops, and gives out a musk- 

 like smell. (The fluid was formerly credited with the property of 

 extinguishing fire, and in Germany this species is known as the "fire- 

 salamander." It was once a superstition that the salamander could 

 actually live in fire.) Its unfitness for food and poisonous properties 

 would, however, be of little benefit to the animal after it had been seized 

 or had received a mortal bite. It is here that its motley garment is called 

 into requisition, acting as a danger-signal to the would-be assailant : 

 " Don't touch me, for I'm poisonous." (Compare with gaily-coloured 

 insects, which possess an evil smell and repulsive taste.) The salamander 

 accordingly possesses no enemies, except the ringed snake, and its move- 

 ments are therefore exceedingly slow. The body is lizard-like in shape, 

 the tail long and round, and the legs short. The animal creeps along 

 with snail-like speed by bending body and tail sideways, and then 

 pushing itself forward with the legs. (Compare with the sand lizard.) 



