. Catalogue of the Batrachia Salientia and Apoda (frogs, toads, and c¿cilians) of southern India. Amphibians. enabled to hold the female.' It is surprising- that tliese animals have not acquired more strongly-marked sexual characters, for, though cold- blooded, their passions are strong. Dr. Giinther informs me that he has several times found an unfortunate female toad dead and smothered from having been so closely embraced by three or four males. Frogs have been observed by Professor Hoffman in Giessen fighting all day long dui-ing the breeding season, and with so much violence that one had i
. Catalogue of the Batrachia Salientia and Apoda (frogs, toads, and c¿cilians) of southern India. Amphibians. enabled to hold the female.' It is surprising- that tliese animals have not acquired more strongly-marked sexual characters, for, though cold- blooded, their passions are strong. Dr. Giinther informs me that he has several times found an unfortunate female toad dead and smothered from having been so closely embraced by three or four males. Frogs have been observed by Professor Hoffman in Giessen fighting all day long dui-ing the breeding season, and with so much violence that one had its body ripped open. " Frogs and toads offer one interesting sexual difference, namely, in the musical powers possessed by the males ; but to speak of music, when applied to the discordant and overwhelming sounds emitted by male bull-frogs and some other species, seems, according to our taste, a singularly inappropriate expression. Nevertheless, certain frogs sing in a decidedly pleasing manner. ^ Near Eio Janeiro I used often to sit in the evening to listen to a number of little Hylee, perched on blades of grass close to the water, which sent forth sweet chirping notes in harmony. The various sounds are emitted chiefly by the males during the breeding season, as in the case of the croaking of our common frog. In accordance with this fact the vocal organs of the males are more highly developed than those of the females. In some genera the males alone are provided with sacs which open into the larynx. For instance in the edible frog (Rrrna c-scidei/fa)^ the sacs are peculiar to the males, and become, when filled with air in the act of croaking, large globular bladders, standing out one on each side of the head near the corners of the mouth. The croak of the male is thus rendered exceedingly powerful, whilst that of the female is only a slight groaning ; In some Batrachians, , the American Pipa, there is no tongue, but all the South Indian tailless Batrachian
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectamphibians, bookyear1
