26 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



touched, and it soon became, from its gentleness, the object of 

 general curiosity ; even ladies came to see this strange animal. The 

 poor Batrachian lived thus for thirty-six years ; and it would 

 probably have lived much longer had not a tame crow, living in 

 the house, attacked it, and put out one of its eyes. From that time 

 it languished and died. 



Surinam Toad. 



Nearly allied to the Toads (Bufo), the Surinam Toad {Pipa 

 monstrosd) holds its place (Fig. 8). Its physiognomy is at once 

 disagreeable and peculiarly odd : the head is flat and triangular, a 

 very short neck separates it from the trunk, which is itself depressed 

 and flattened ; its eyes are extremely small, of an olive, more or 

 less bright colour, dashed with small reddish spots ; it has no 

 tongue. There is only one species of Pipa, viz., the American Pipa, 



