THE MARBLED TREE- TO AD, 
167 
In the Pouched Prog we find a most singular example of structure, the female being 
furnished with a pouch on her back, in which the eggs are placed when hatched, and carried 
about for a considerable period. 
This pouch is clearly analogous to the living cradle of the marsupial animals. It is not 
merely developed when wanted, as is the case with the cells on the back of the Surinam Toad, 
but is permanent, and lined with skin like that of the back. The pouch does not attain its 
full development until the creature is of mature age, and the male does not possess it at all. 
When filled with eggs the pouch is much dilated, and extends over the whole back nearly as 
far as the back of the head. The opening is not easily seen without careful examination, 
being very narrow, and hidden in folds of the skin. 
Its color is very variable, but green has the predominance. It is found in Mexico, but 
many specimens have been brought from the Andes of Ecuador. 
A very curious species, called the Lichened Tree-Toad (Trachycephalus lichenatus ), 
inhabits Jamaica, and is described by Mr. Gosse in his “Naturalist’s Sojourn” in that island. 
It derives its name from the aspect of the head, which looks as if it was overgrown with 
lichens. It is generally found among the wild pine trees, and is very active, being able to 
take considerable leaps. Sometimes it puffs out its body, and causes a kind of frothy 
moisture to exhale from the skin. This moisture adheres to the fingers like gum, and causes 
the Frog to leave a trail behind it like that of a snail or slug. 
The color of the Lichened Tree-Toad is pale red mottled with brown, and having a large 
patch of the same color between the shoulders. The muzzle and sides are pale green, spotted 
with dark reddish-brown, and below it is whitish-gray, the chin being speckled with reddish- 
brown. The head is flattened, sharply pointed at the muzzle, and studded with sharp bony 
ridges. Its ordinary length is about four inches. 
Another species of the same genus, the Marbled Tree-Toad ( Trachyeephalus marmo- 
rdtus ), is described by the same writer : — * 
“One of them was taken in a bedroom at Savannah -le-Mar, one night in October, having 
probably hopped in at the open window from the branches of a mango tree only a few feet 
distant. I was surprised at its change of color, in this respect resembling the chameleon and 
anoles, or still nearer, the geckos. 
When I obtained it, the whole upper parts were of a rich deep amber-brown, with 
indistinct black bands. On looking at it at night, to my surprise I saw a great alteration 
of hue. It was paler on the head and back, though least altered there ; on the rump and 
on the fore and hind legs it was become a sort of semi-pellucid drab, marked with minute 
close-set dark specks. When disturbed, it presently became slightly paler still, but in a few 
minutes it had recovered its original depth of tint. In the course of half an hour it displayed 
again the speckled dark hue, and now uniformly so, save a black irregular patch or two on 
the head, and a dark patch between the mouth and each eye. The belly, which was very 
iegulaily shagreened, was of a dull buff, not susceptible of change. Its eyes retained their 
proverbial beauty, for the irides were of a golden-brown tint, like sun-rays shining; through 
tortoise-shell. 
This specimen was about as large as a middling English Frog, being two inches and a 
quarter in length. 
“While in captivity, if unmolested, it spent a good deal of time motionless, squatting 
fiat and close, with shut eyes, as if sleeping, but sometimes it was active. I kept it in a basin 
covered with a pane of glass, for facility of observation. It would keep its face opposite the 
window, altering its position pertinaciously if the basin were turned, though ever so gently. 
It took no notice of cockroaches, nor of a large flesh-fly which buzzed about it, and even 
crawled over its nose. If taken in the hand, it struggled vigorously, so as to be with difficulty 
held ; once or twice, while thus struggling, it uttered a feeble squeak ; but if still retained, 
it would at length inflate the abdomen with air, apparently a sign of anger. It leaped but 
•lot far.” 
