3© Frogs of the Okejinokee Swamp 



amplexated axillary for several times over several days may be pre-axillary 

 with fore hands on lower throat or pectoral region (Acris), or on one side have 

 arm to middle of female's throat and other arm axillary (Hyla cinerea or 

 Bufo terrestris). 



Axillary fashion in pectoral or inguinal species occurs. A Scaphiopus 

 male once held a female with one arm above and behind a foreleg and the 

 other just in front of a hind leg. Or a southern meadow frog, male, may 

 seize a female Rana clamitans axillary-like, not have arms long enough to 

 reach breast. Or an unusual pair of R. grylio might seem axillary like. 



Pectoral amplexation might come in axillary forms when a male proves 

 bigger than the female (Hyla femor alts, Bufo terrestris, R. clamitans). Some- 

 times both arms go on to the breast or only one. The other arm might be 

 axillary like in embrace. 



In toads and spade-foots ardor is very great. One toad we saw embracing 

 a floating rootstock. Any frog its size it will seize. In the same way the 

 spadefoot will seize southern meadow frogs, Florida tree frogs, southern toads 

 or similar-sized anurans. 



In spite of the variations given in the three preceding paragraphs we have 

 never seen ovulation in any species where abnormal amplexation obtained 

 and in general most of the preceding records must be preceding ovulation or 

 where captives have long remained in embrace. Normally at ovulation in 

 the field and usually in laboratory amplexation is normal. 



OVULATION 



In our study of ovulation we sought to capture mated pairs afield. These 

 usually laid the night of their capture. There were a few exceptions to the 

 rule as we found for the forms of northeastern United States, but in general 

 all species follow it. It means that when the female appears at the breeding 

 place she is usually ready to ovulate. If mating males be not present or if a 

 female of a pair be separated from a mating male or if a female be caught in 

 a congress just before mating, she may lay in captivity without the attendant 

 male. We did not seek to see if such were possible for each species, but it is 

 without doubt the case. At random with no attempt to secure such results 

 we noted ovulation without attendant males in Acris gryllus, Hyla versicolor, 

 Hyla cinerea, Bufo terrestris, Rana clamitans, Rana sphenocephala and 

 Rana virgatipes. 



In very early spring at least six forms begin to breed. Possibly Pseudacris 

 nigrita may lead or come after the others. Its eggs we have not found. 

 They are doubtless a loose small mass like those of P. triseriata or P. feriarum 

 farther north. The southern meadow frog Rana sphenocephala begins laying 

 its plinths from February to December; crest March to May. About the 

 same time, February 15 or 20 to August 17 (crest March to May) the gopher 

 frog Rana aesopus lays a larger plinth similar to that of the southern meadow 

 frog. March i to September i seems the period, (crest March to May) for 

 the long egg files of the southern toad Bufo terrestris. From March 10 to 



