62 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



FOOD 



No phase might prove more profitable than the study of the food of these 

 species. Former associates of the author such as Drs. P. A. Munz and S. W. 

 Frost have pointed out how engaging this topic might be and how valuable 

 anura are in collecting the lowly and rare insects the entomologist might miss. 

 In this paper this topic is one of its weakest phases treated. Only three of the 

 Okefinokee forms have been carefully studied with Okefinokee material. 

 Dr. Vernon Haber published his interesting paper on "The Food of the 

 Carohna Treefrog, Hyla cinerea Schneider" (Journ. Comp. Psych. Vol. VI, 

 No. 2, Apr. 1926, pp. 189-220). Out of this study come G. Steiner's signifi- 

 cant "Some Nemas from the Alimentary Tract of the Carolina Tree Frog 

 (Hyla carolinensis Pennant) with Discussion of Some General Problems of 

 Nematology." (Journ. Parasitology, Sept. 1924, Vol. XI, pp. 1-32). 



One never knows whither these food studies of frogs as well as other 

 groups will lead. In a somewhat similar fashion we have a by-product in the 

 study of the food of the oak toad (Bufo quercicus). Dr. Remington Kellogg 

 examined all our Bufo quercicus and Bufo terrestris from the Okefinokee 

 swamp and these studies are incorporated in his two forth-coming papers. 

 But some of the spiders of the Bufo quercicus food contents were submitted 

 to Prof. C. R. Crosby. He picked up one vial of spiders collected by Bufo 

 quercicus (Dr. T. Barbour collection) in Florida. He secured a new genus 

 and new species. The next vial were spiders collected by Bufo quercicus 

 (A. H. Wright collection) from Okefinokee swamp and the new genus from 

 Florida appeared and another new species of it. Professor Crosby gives it 

 the amusing title "A New Genus and Two Species of Spiders Collected by 

 Bufo quercicus (Holbrook)," but the title nevertheless expresses the real 

 situation. Other species ought to prove equally attractive forms for study. 



ENEMIES 



No article is more sought for or more relished as a food by a diversity of 

 animals from fish to man than frogs. The latter's defense consists in conceal- 

 ment and in the possession of poison glands in the skin, neither of which means 

 is aggressive in its nature. Insects and plants may prove a more constant 

 fare, but to any fair-sized animal a frog diet is one of the preferred menus, if 

 obtainable. Man is not content with cleaning up and draining the "frog holes" 

 or swampy stretches, but he kills the frogs at all seasons. He takes the frogs 

 when they congregate for breeding purposes and such a toll hardly accords 

 with the ideas of conservation held at the present day for birds or mammals. 

 The day may come when every farm will have its pond for cattle and hence 

 frogs, but swine are amongst their worst enemies. (For longer discussion of 

 this topic see the topic enemies under each species account.) 



AFFINITIES 



We are starting with the better known comparative characters of adults 

 and are adding a supplement out of our actual experiences with these frogs 



