. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. AMPHIBIOUS VERTEBRATES. 203 with which they cling to trees and any surface. Their habits are very singular. In tropical Africa, a species (Polypedates) deposit their eggs on leaves by the side of streams into which they are washed by the rain. In the Island of Guadeloupe there are no marshes, and the young tree-toads appear directly in the adult shape : this is called a suppressed metamorphosis. A tree-toad in Martinique carries its young tadpoles clinging to its back, presenting a strange sight. In the Andes, a toad (Nototrenia) has a sac on its back in which t
. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. AMPHIBIOUS VERTEBRATES. 203 with which they cling to trees and any surface. Their habits are very singular. In tropical Africa, a species (Polypedates) deposit their eggs on leaves by the side of streams into which they are washed by the rain. In the Island of Guadeloupe there are no marshes, and the young tree-toads appear directly in the adult shape : this is called a suppressed metamorphosis. A tree-toad in Martinique carries its young tadpoles clinging to its back, presenting a strange sight. In the Andes, a toad (Nototrenia) has a sac on its back in which the young are carried. The most remarkable tree-toad is a flier (R/iacop/iorus, Fig. 244) from New Guinea. Its toes and fingers are completely webbed so that they form parachutes, the little creature springing from limb to limb like a flying-squirrel. They are four inches in length, the web of the hind-feet expanding four square inches. Nearly all tree-toads are green or brown in color, adapted to the leaves or limbs of trees, thus escap- ing their enemies. Hyla micans exudes a luminous secre- tion that may serve to frighten its enemies, while a French species exudes when attacked a strong, pungent odor. Valxje. — The tree-toads protect the trees from noxious insects. Hyla arborea is used as a barome- ter, placed in a bottle, with a small ladder upon which they ascend in pleasant weather, remaining at the bottom if it prom- ises to be inclem- ent. In the Su- rinam toad (Fig. 245), allied to the family, the male. Fig. 245.—Surinam toad, showing young escaping from the cells in the mother's Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Holder, Charles Frederick, 1851-1915; Holder, Joseph Bassett, 1824-1888, joint author. New York : D. Appleton and company
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
