The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Of tail-less batrachians. CUL-DAR82.B4. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 2.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).

[B4]

Of tail-less batrachians G. knows permanent structural differences only in Megalophrys montana (see Indian reptiles) which has tubercle over eyes & nose & a 3rd wart on the back which structures are either absent or slightly developed in the female; even in young male their points were as well developed as in female. (I had several times found 3 or 4 male toads which had embraced female so closely that they had prevented her breathing & so killed her.) (Have seen several enough Snakes courting with one female.) Snakes

[Descent 2: 26, n41: "'The Reptiles of India,' by Dr. A. Günther, Ray Soc. 1864, p. 413."]

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)