40 The Peeper, Hyla pickeringii (Holbrook). 



of an aquarium jar, with no stems to hold, the female may frequently 

 bring the forearms together above and in front of the vent. 



At each emission only a single egg is laid. A few bunches were 

 recorded, but they were made up of singly deposited eggs, each of 

 which was laid after a period of activity and movement in the jar. 

 Instantly after the emission of sperm in the oblique position, the female 

 swings to the erect position and voids a single egg. When laying at 

 regular intervals she remains 5 to 10 seconds in this position. If the 

 deposition be not at the crest of her egg-laying or if she be slightly 

 disturbed, she may so remain 15 to 20 seconds. At the height of egg- 

 laying an interval between fertilizations may be as small as 5 seconds. 



One pair was watched very carefully and the following notes are the 

 beginning of the record: Four emissions in one minute; pair went to 

 surface for air; an interval of three quarters of a minute; five emissions 

 in three-quarters of a minute; up again for air; one-half minute wait; 

 five emissions in 50 seconds; up for air; etc. 



Oviposit ion lasts for several hours. All three pairs had been laying 

 for some time previous to 8 h 30 m a. m., when they were first noticed, yet 

 one pair kept on until 3 h 15 m p. m. of the following day. Two of the 

 pairs continued in the embrace 4 or 5 hours after egg-laying was appar- 

 ently completed. 



On March 29, 1910, an excellent opportunity came for observing the 

 process in nature. At 10 a.m. I noticed a pair come to the surface and 

 watched them return to the bottom. The periods of remaining in 

 attitude for emission varied from 10 to 20 seconds. The female main- 

 tained a horizontal position, not upright as in previous pairs observed. 

 She would lay an egg, then walk along or drag herself and mate along 

 three or four steps, stop for another fertilization and emission, and so 

 it went for some time through the weeds and matty vegetation without 

 rising to the surface during my observations. Probably they come up 

 occasionally, as when first seen. After a time they were captured, put 

 in a wet handkerchief, and carried a mile to the laboratory. In an 

 hour they were taken back to the pond in a glass jar with wire gauze 

 over the top. In spite of this handling and the hot sun's rays through 

 the glass they did not break until I placed the jar in the pond. They 

 soon embraced again and continued laying as if nothing had happened. 

 The process had begun and they could not stop it. Occasionally in 

 laboratory, and more rarely in the field, we have recorded females dead 

 after ovulation. 



THE EGGS. 



The eggs are submerged and laid singly. Both these conditions 

 make them hard to find in the field. We have found them in water 

 from an inch to 3 feet deep, among fine grasses and other plants, in 

 matty vegetation and leaves of various sorts, but usually not far 

 removed from the bottom, if not on it. Invariablv in the field we have 



