lyS Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



In 1906 Dickerson paraphrases the above data of period and asserts egg 

 laying is in late April and early May. 



In 1910 J. K. Strecker Jr., (1910, p. 80) gives "Apr. 10 to May 30" as the 

 breeding period for Aais grijlhis crepitans of Waco, Texas. Ruthven, Thomp- 

 son and Thompson (1912, p. 47) hold "the eggs are laid in April and May." 



In 1920 Wright (1920, p. 29) writes "The cricket frog is one of the first 

 forms to appear in the spring, and according to several authors breeds in 

 March, April and May or even later." 



In 192 1 on April 15, on St. Augustine School Grounds, Raleigh, N. C, 

 we heard a few males calling at night 9 : 00 p. m. with temperature 68°. Then 

 we thought that they and the meadow frogs were practically over breeding 

 with a few stragglers in the ponds and wet meadows. But two nights later 

 at Boone's Pond plenty were calling in the evening. This indicates Brimley's 

 remark that they "breed from April through most of the summer" is nearer 

 the truth for Raleigh. 



In 1 92 1 in the swamp from captive pairs we have May 15, May 16, May 

 27, June 4, June 25. In 1921 we took or recorded mated pairs: Apr. 24, 

 Apr. 25, May 14, May 15, May 26, June 3, June 24. In 1922 we captured a 

 pair July 2. 



In 192 1 we recorded great choruses Apr. 24, Apr. 25, May 9 and 10, May 

 13 and 14, May 16, May 26, May 27, June 3, June 25, July 11-18, July 27. 

 In 1922 the choruses were June 14-22, June 27, July 2, July 5, July 7, July 9, 

 July 18, July 21, Aug. 4-6, Aug. 9-1 1, Aug. 13, Aug. 15, Aug. 19, Aug. 30. 



On the basis of spent females we find that in a group of 9 females captured 

 Apr. 24-28, 192 1, the night after we entered the swamp, 7 were gravid and 2 

 spent. Other female records for 192 1 are June 16, gravid, July 2, gravid, 

 July 29, gravid, June 3, spent, July 17, gravid, June 20, gravid, July 8, gravid. 



We, therefore, see that on the basis of ovulation in camp we have records 

 from May 15- June 25, on mated pairs evidence records from Apr. 24- July 2, 

 on choruses from Apr. 17-Aug. 30, and on spent and gravid females records of 

 spent females Apr. 24 and gravid females July 29. The ovulation period 

 surely goes from Apr. 2 4- July 29 and if strong choruses help in the evidence 

 from Apr. 15-Sept. i. All our subsequent notes (1922-1926) summarize 

 it as Apr. 15 or earlier to Sept. i. Doubtless it lays beyond Sept. i. 



Temperature and humidity. In 192 1, May 15, when the first pair laid in 

 captivity the air temperature was 67°. Later the same day when another 

 female laid we report "Today the temperature has been from 66°-69°. Still 

 later, May 16, we record "The eggs during May 15 and May 16 to 9:00 a. m. 

 had air conditions of 67°-7i°F. 



Humidity is the most important factor. The Apr. 24-25, 192 1, period was 

 preceded by heavy rain in surrounding stations. The May 13-16 was rainy 

 and was followed by rain. The May 26-27 P^^riod had a few light rains 

 around the swamp. On June 3-4 we had heavy rains. On June 24-25 rains 

 prevailed. In 1922 on July 2 we had a rain at St. George of 2.00 inches. 

 The air maxima and minima for stations around the swamp for these peri- 

 ods are : 



