DISC-TONGUED FROGS. 
285 
Midwife-Frogs. 
they develop black rugosities 011 the inner side of the fore-arm, as well as on the 
inner tubercle of the metacarpus, and on the two innermost front-toes. There are 
two varieties of this frog (reckoned by some as distinct species), of which the one 
with orange-coloured under-parts is to be found in streams or marshes in the 
lowlands, while the yellow-bellied form lives at considerable elevations in the 
mountains. They are essentially aquatic frogs, only leaving the water for a short 
time in the spring, when they may be seen hopping on the land on their long 
hind-legs. In the water they generally take up their position at some distance 
from the bank, sitting with their heads slightly raised above the surface, and dis¬ 
appearing with lightning-like speed at the slightest noise, to seek safety in the 
mud at the bottom. The tadpoles grow to an unusually large size, and are 
especially characterised by the great development of the tail-fin. 
The third European representative of the family is the so-called 
midwife-frog (Alytes ob-stetricans), of which the typical form inhabits 
France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Western Germany, while a variety occurs in 
Spain and Portugal; 
Spain being also the 
home of the second 
member of the genus (A 
cisternasii). From the 
fire-bellied frog these two 
species are distinguished 
by the distinct external 
tympanic membrane to 
the ear, the elliptical and 
vertical pupil of the eye, 
and the moderate ex¬ 
pansion of the transverse 
processes of the sacral 
vertebra. The common 
species has the skin of 
the upper - parts warty, 
while that of the under 
surface is granular; the 
glands near the head are small or indistinct, but there are large ones on the limbs; 
and the males have no vocal sac. The colour of the upper-parts is olive-grey, with 
darker dots and irregular spots. Essentially an aquatic species, this frog derives 
its name from the circumstance that the male takes charge of the eggs during 
their development. The breeding-season lasts for upwards of six months, namely, 
from March to August, although the eggs are laid only from March till June. 
These are deposited by the female in the form of long chains, which may be 
upwards of a yard and a half in length. These chains are taken by the male, and 
wound round his legs and thighs; and when thus loaded he retires to some burrow 
or convenient hollow near the bank, where, at least during the daytime, he remains 
in concealment until the tadpoles are ready for hatching. He then enters the 
water, and the tadpoles soon come forth, and swim away to take care of them- 
MALE OF MIDWIFE-FROG WITH CHAINS OF EGGS (nat. size). 
