1877.] Pseudis, “ The Paradoxical Frog.” 589 
ing a Purkinjean vesicle (mesoblast), within which rests a Wag- 
nerian vesicle (entoblast). If we were to follow the egg closely 
through its different conditions we should see it dropping from 
the ovary at maturity, passing to the mouth of the oviduct, and 
through it thrown out into the waters at the same instant that it 
_receives the life-imparting sperm from the male. 
If Newport did not mistake, we might see the snake-like 
spermatozodn work its way through the envelopes to the surface, 
where, breaking into granules, its identity is lost in the substance 
of the yelk. Then we should notice the beginning of segmenta- 
tion, its progress, and the successive changes of form in the em- 
bryo, until it tears the shell, and with great, wondering eyes stares - 
out upon its watery world a tadpole. While a big-headed slen- 
der-tailed tadpole we should find much of interest in the Jackie, 
as called at home, but in the main the story might be told with — 
approximate accuracy from one secured in the nearest pond. 
After leaving the shell his manner of life would resemble in most 
respects that of any other passing through the same stages. He 
might be seen at one time busily engaged grubbing along on the 
bottom for whatever eatable might come in his way (and he is 
not at all particular as to his food), or with many companions 
lying quietly at rest, starting every now and then like the Turk 
from his dream, rushing frantically to the surface for a mouthful 
of air, then tearing back as if his very life depended upon haste, 
placing himself on the mud as before, ‘just as if nothing whatever 
had happened. At another time, with a whole group of his fel- 
lows, he would be seen to start upon an extended migration as 
though he had determined to leave the scenes of his youth for- 
ever behind him. Often he might be observed to gnaw for some 
moments at the sides of the leaves of the water-plants, all the 
while wagging his tail and appearing as jolly as if he had as 
much real enjoyment in eating as a pig or dog. Then again he 
would be seen to take a nap with his nose just against the sur- 
face of the water, and on being waked suddenly to bury himself 
deep in the ooze below. | 
But all the time he would have nothing in the world to do but 
eat and grow and keep out of the way of hungry enemies. He 
Would eat to some purpose and grow to a size considerably greater 
than that of the adult. In the mean time the hind legs, with 
the broad-webbed feet appear, and the arms and hands with the 
Peculiar thumbs. Here he rests for a time as if altogether un- 
certain whether further change is for the better. In fact, he 
