General Discussion 



35 



The measurements and color descriptions are based on fresh eggs. Later, 



these were checked with preserved material. The eggs with loose outer 



envelope have the outer margin indicated by dots. In one species the vitelline 



membrane is far separated from the vitellus and the space is indicated by 



cross hatching. A summary of the egg characters of each species follows in 



the accompanying key: 



A. Eggs deposited singly, 

 a. Envelopes two 



Outer envelope diameter 1.4-2.0 mm.; inner envelope diameter 1.2 to 1.6 mm; 

 vitellus diameter 0.8 to i.o mm; eggs brown above and cream below. Egg 



complement, 942. Season, June 10 to August 21 (Fig. 10) Hyla squirella. 



aa. Envelope single 



b. Envelope 2.3 mm. or more. 



c. Vitelline membrane far from vitellus, appearing as inner envelope 1.6 to 

 2.0 mm; outer envelope loose, glutinous, indefinite in outline 2.3 to 5 mm; 

 vitellus 1.0 to 1.8 mm. Egg complement, 2084. Season, June 10 to 



August 21 (Fig. 11) Hyla gratiosn. 



cc. No inner envelope or appearance as such, envelope firm, definite in outline 

 2.4 to 3.6 mm; vitellus 0.9 to i.o mm. Egg complement, 241. Season 

 April 15 or earlier to September i (Fig. 9) . . Acris gryllus. 

 bb. Envelope 1.2 to 2.0 mm. 



c. Vitellus 0.6 to 0.8 mm. Egg complement, 100. Season, May 16 to August 

 21 (Fig. 6) . . . Pseudacris ocularis. 

 cc. Vitellus 0.9 to i.r mm. Egg complement, 800 to 1,000. Season, March 30 



to May 15 (Fig. 8) Hyla crucijier. 



AA. Eggs deposited in a mass. 



a. Egg mass, a surface fUm. 



b. Egg envelope outline always distinct, never lost in the mass; eggs firm and 

 distinct like glass marbles, making a fine mosaic; envelope a truncated sphere, 

 the flat surface above; envelope single 2.8 to 4.0 mm; vitellus 1.0 to 1.2 mm; 

 color black above and white below. Egg complement, 869. Season, May 21 



to August 17 (Fig. 24) Gastrophryne carolinensis. 



bb. Egg envelope outline indistinct, more or less merged in the jelly mass; jelly 

 glutinous; egg brown above, cream or yellow below. 



c. Egg packets small, masses seldom if ever over 20 sq. in. (125 square centi- 

 meters), or 4 by 5 inches in diameter (10 by 12.5 cm.). 

 d. Inner envelope large 2.2 to 3. mm; outer envelope 3.2 to 5.0 mm; 

 vitellus 0.8 to 1.6 mm; Egg complement, 343 to 500. Season, May 



19 to August 21 (Fig. 12) Hyla cinerea. 



dd. Inner envelope small 1.4 to 2.0 mm; outer envelope 4 to 8 mm. 



e. Packets small, seldom over 30 to 40 eggs; vitellus i.i to 1.2 mm. 

 Egg complement, 1,802. Season, May 10 to August 13 (Fig. 



18) Hyla versicolor. 



ee. Packets large, sometimes 100 to 125 eggs; vitellus 0.8 to 1.2 mm. 

 av. 0.95 mm. Egg complement, 768. Season May 16 to August 



21 (Fig. 17) Hyla femoralis. 



cc. Egg packets large, loose, glutinous films, 35 sq. in. to 675 sq. in. (218 to 



3,721 sq. cm.). 



d. Inner envelope absent; vitellus 1.2 to 1.7 mm; egg mass 144 to 675 



sq. in. (900 to 3,721 sq. cm.) in area, or 12 by 25 inches (30 by6i cm.) 



in diameter; egg masses amongst brush around the edge of ponds or 



encircling Pottiederia-\ike vegetation in midpond. Egg complement, 



10,000 to 20,000. Season, June i to July 10, (Fig. 13) 



Rana catesbeiana. 

 dd. Inner envelope present, 2.8 to 4.0 mm; vitellus 1.4 to 2.0 mm. 



e. Egg mass seldom i. sq. ft. (35 to 144 sq. in. or 218 to 900 cm) in 

 area or 5 by 7 to 12 inches in diameter; usually around edge of 

 ponds; inner envelope eUiptic, pyriform or circular, av. 3.05 mm; 

 vitellus 1.4 to 1.8 mm, mode 1.4 mm. av. 1.5 mm. Egg comple- 

 ment, 1,451 to 4,000. Season, May 2t, to August 21 (P'ig. 16) . . . 



Rana cLamitans. 

 ee. Egg mass over i sq. ft. in area (144 to 288 sq. in. or 900 to 1,800 

 sq. cm.) or 12 by 12 inches to 12 by 24 inches in diameter; usually 

 in midpond; inner envelope av. 3.45 mm; vitellus 1.4 to 2.0 mm, 

 mode 1.8 mm, av. 1.7 mm. Egg complement, 8,000 to 15,000. 

 Season, May 24 to August 21 (Fig. 15) Rana grylio. 



