138 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



(northern) toad, and seems to prefer the neighborhood of human habitations 

 for its abode. Near our house we found them under boards, logs, tubs, heaps 

 of rubbish, etc." In 192 1 he writes "It is found at any time of the year in 

 gardens and cultivated grounds." 



(For habitat notes see General Habits, Ovulation Habitat, and Local Oke- 

 finokee records). 



FIRST APPEARANCE 



Most of the records for the first half of the year come in April. In the 

 U. S. National Museum collections we noted two collections in January, 

 three in February, four in March, eight in April, four in May, two in June 

 and eight in July. 



In 192 1 we entered about April 22 and secured specimens at once. Two 

 days later they were breeding near our camp. This implies that they may have 

 been out much earlier. 



GENERAL HABITS 



Variations in color. Shaw (1802, p. 173) notes "They vary somewhat in 

 colour, being deeper or paler in different individuals." 



Early naturalists in America began to find red toads and about them much 

 difference of opinion obtained. 



Bartram (1791, p. 279) writes "The highland frogs, commonly called 

 toads, are of two species, the red and the black. The former, which is of a 

 reddish-brown or brick colour, is the largest, and may weigh upwards of one 

 pound when full grown; they have a disagreeable look, and when irritated, 

 they swell and raise themselves up on their four legs and croak, but are no 

 ways venomous or hurtful to man." 



In 1827 J. L. Williams (A View of West Florida, 1827, p. 29) speaks of 

 "The red and black toads are common and useful reptiles; in destroying 

 insects they are extremely expert." 



Harlan (1827, p. 345, 1835, p. 109) describes a "Var. A. The reddish- 

 brown, or brick-coloured toad of Bartram; very large, weighing near one 

 pound when full grown; legs and thighs marked with blotches and ringlets. 

 Inhabits the Southern States. The Red toad of Pennsylvania is but little 

 larger than the B. musicus." 



Holbrook (1842, Vol. V, pp. 11, 12) figures and describes Bufo erythronotus 

 at considerable length. His last three topics might be repeated: "Habits. 

 This animal is found in the deep forests of oak in the neighbourhood of 

 Charleston, and is especially rare, as in nine years I have not seen more than a 

 dozen specimens, consequently nothing can be said of its habits. 



"Geographical Distribution. As yet this animal has only been observed in 

 South Carolina. 



"General Remarks. There is no doubt that this animal is an adult, 

 though I was at first disposed to consider it the young of the large toad of 

 similar colour mentioned by Bartram in his Travels in Florida, which as yet 

 I have never seen. Subsequent observation has, however, convinced me to 

 the contrary; for Bartram's animal weighed nearly a pound, while no specimen 

 of the Bufo erythronotus exceeded twenty lines in length; nor can it be the 



