Bufo quercicus 127 



Egg description. In 191 2 we made these observations on the species. A 

 count of the eggs of the left ovary reveals 305 eggs and if there be the same in 

 the right one the complement would be 610 eggs. Each of these ovarian eggs 

 is .8-1.0 mm. in diameter, the average .9 mm. while in the common toad the 

 egg is 1. 0-1.4 mm., average i.i mm., mode 1.2 mm. 



In 1920 (p. 30) we held that "The female oak toad may deposit 500 to 600 

 eggs, while a common toad produces 4,000 or more. The eggs of the oak toad 

 are slightly smaller than those of the common toad". In 1924 (pp. 576, 377, 

 379) Wright and Wright give a diagram of a bar of 5 Bufo quercicus eggs quite 

 unhke in egg string any Bufo east of the Mississippi. Of all Bufo eggs seen in 

 the U. S. A. they remind us most of Bufo compactilis only its eggs are in long 

 strings. Our characterization of 1924 (p. 379) is "Eggs submerged. Eggs in 

 files. Files short (4 to 10 mm. in length) ; 4 to 8 eggs in short bead-hke chain 

 or bar or many such files radiating from one focus; vitellus 0.8-1.0 mm.; tube 

 diameter 1.2-1.4 mm. Egg complement, 610, 766". 



In 192 1 we first positively identified this species (See egg mass, attach- 

 ment, for 192 1 notes). Two days after the July congress we observe that we 

 made this note. "Noticed that the eggs of Bufo quercicus are decidedly 

 brown and cream or yellowish". 



In 1922 the following three notes might have pertinence: On "June 28 we 

 found a female in a 'chufa' field at 9:00 p.m. Later made a count of the ripe 

 eggs in her left ovary. There were 383 or if the same for the right, 766 for 

 both ovaries, its entire complement". On "July 4 the pairs laid between 12 

 midnight and 7 :oo a.m. The strings come out several eggs long but the jelly 

 every 5 or 6 eggs seems to pull out. There is little jelly around eggs. There 

 is httle jelly apparent if stained with red ink or potassium permanganate 

 (camp stains for writing and poison ivy respectively). "Finally on July 27 in a 

 shallow Quercus myrtifolia pond we heard so many oak toads we looked for 

 eggs. We find single bars of 26 or 8 eggs rarely attached to sticks at the sur- 

 face, usually attached to grass blades .5 to i or 2 inches below the surface of 

 the water. The water is 1-3 inches deep. Other bars are attached to pine 

 needles. Most often grass is the point of attachment. Once in awhile two 

 bars extend out from a common focus. Normally they are close together. 

 Found a female dead. Did she die from ovulation or mating?" 



Detailed measurements of preserved material by Mrs. Wright give the 

 following results: 52 vitelli yielded 3 at .8 mm., 2 at .9 mm., and 47 at i.o 

 mm., the average and the mode i.o mm.; 51 tubes of jelly gave 23 at 1.2 mm. 

 in width, and 28 at 1.4 mm., the average 1.3 mm., the mode 1.4, but not one 

 actually at 1.3 mm.; 4, 5 or 6 eggs within a tube, each egg in sphere, spheres 

 stuck together, so partition between vitelli; of two 4-egg bars one is 4 mm. 

 long, one 4.8 mm. ; of two s-egg bars each is 5 mm. long; of one 6-egg bar it is 

 6 mm. long. In two accessions of eggs she notes "Queer little yellow drops 

 like drops of oil within egg tube and on outside". "Few drops Hke drops of 

 oil". 



Dangers. In 1920 (p. 30) we held that "Many of these eggs or the sub- 

 sequent tadpoles are dried up by the rapid evaporation of the very transient 



