Abstract
IN reference to Bufo calamita attaching itself to the carp, and pressing its thumbs into the fish's eyes (see NATURE, May 12th), I would mention that the male Batrachia in the spawning season often attach themselves to any object, pressing the hands, on which is developed, at this season, a peculiar, black, wart-like structure, into the object which they seize—a stick, a human finger, or a carp as it appears, being sometimes hugged with spasmodic violence. A curious illustration of the reflex nature of this movement, and the inhibitory function of the cerebrum in regard to reflex actions, was witnessed by me lately, on cutting through the neck of a male toad. My finger was between the animal's fore legs, but on account of fright, or some other cerebral operation, no hugging action took place; but directly the connection between the spinal cord and cerebrum was severed, the arms joined closely upon my finger, the thumbs being pressed into it in the usual way, and the headless body held firmly to me with considerable muscular power. Just as the leg of the brainless frog is withdrawn more rapidly from acidulated water, than is that of a perfectly sound and healthy specimen, so did the hugging action of the forearms fail to be brought about by contact of the extremities with a foreign body whilst the animal was whole, but took place immediately upon the severance of the cerebrum from connection with the rest of the cerebro-spinal axis.
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LANKESTER, E. Carp and Toads. Nature 2, 67 (1870). https://doi.org/10.1038/002067a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/002067a0
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