THE VOICE OF ANIMALS 
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voice to call notes that commence with two 
clear and ringing notes that are followed by 
a somewhat protracted and descending trill; 
the whole performance reminding one of the 
song of a greenfinch. 
Very remarkable are the vocal powers of 
the ceratophrys, barking-frogs or horned- 
toads as they are variously called. One of 
the better-known species is the ornamented 
ceratophrys (Ceratophrys ornata) of Southern 
Brazil and the Argentine, which grows to a 
length of about eight inches. When irritated 
or frightened, it inflates its body to an enormous 
size and then utters the most peculiar cries 
that closely resemble the wailings of a human 
baby. At other times it will give rise to 
barking sounds, and also produce deep-toned 
and bell-like noises. 
The common spade foot or toad-frog is also 
curious in the fact that it indulges in the habit 
of swelling out its body like a balloon and 
then gives voice to loud and shrill cries like 
those of a baby; while the Brazilian tree- 
frog (Hyla faber) utters a cry that may be 
compared to the sound produced by knocking 
a mallet against a copper plate. 
One would hardly imagine that snakes were 
endowed with voices, but certain species, 
notably the bull, pine or Say’s snake, and the 
