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Show 1895. ) OS T H E NURSIXG-U.YBITS OF SOUTH-AMERICAN FROGS. 209 showing the duct and outlet in one of the small hair-bearing chitinous plates (cs.) of the cuticle. F'w. 26. Dark-staining net-like structure contained in a delicate sac near the duct of some, at least, of the dermal glands, X 600. Fitr. 27. Median sagittal section through the anterior portion of the pharynx, showing the mode in which the distensor muscles (mlp.) are attached to the roof* (pr.) of the pharynx by numerous tendons. The depressor muscles (mop.) of the roof of the pharynx are cut across and appear circular in transverse section. The anterior end of the pharyngeal nerve (nph.) is seen, with its branches to the respective muscles. Pi". 28. Sagittal section through the testicular mass on one side of the body of the rS, X 200. The section is cut in the plane where the vas deferens (vd.) emerges. The true testicular portions are composed of sperm-mother- cells (sm.), some of which are discharging their contents into the portion (tvs.) which functions as a vesicula seminalis. One of the walls of the latero-posterior portion of the ventriculus is seen to the right, containing dark-staining food-droplets within its cells. Between the ventriculus and the testicular mass is seen the gland of unknown function (gu.). 3. On the Nnrsing-habits of two South-American Frogs. By G. A. BOULENGER, F.R.S. [Received February 28, 1895.] (Plate X.) At a recent Meeting of this Society a most interesting communication wa3 read from Dr. E. A. Goldi, in which an account was given of the breeding-habits of Hgla goeldii, Blgr., as observed by himself and his cousin Mr. Andreas Groldi in the Serra dos Orgaos, Prov. Eio de Janeiro 2 I have since received from the latter gentleman two specimens of this rare tree-frog, one of which is a female with the eggs on her back. This specimen I have brought for exhibition before the Society, and I wish to offer a few remarks concerning it, together with a figure. The frog was captured on the 5th of January of the present year at Colonia Alpina, Santa Eita de Theresopolis, and measures 42 millim. from snout to vent. The whole surface of the back is occupied by one layer of 26 large pale yellow eggs, 4 millim. in diameter, on which the embryos, coiled round the enormous vitelline mass, can be distinguished with the naked eye. The skin of the back is expanded in a feebly reverted fold which borders and supports the egg-mass on the sides, thus suggesting an incipient stage of the dorsal pouch of the allied genus Nototrema. The embryos are much elongate in shape, colourless, with a large flat head, in which the eyes are distinguishable as two black points; no traces of gills are to be seen. One of these eggs is represented, enlarged, ou the drawing (Plate X.), together with the young in the condition it leaves the mother. Since the publication, in 1886, of m y synopsis of tbe various modes by which tailless Batrachians protect their offspring, several new types have come to m y knowledge, among which that offered 1 See above, pp. 94-96. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1895, No. XIV. 14 |
