1 84 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



wrote "The conspicuous character is the arrangement of coloration on the 

 muscular part of the tail. There are four long bands — the first a brownish 

 band from body to tip of tail; above this a cream white band, followed by 

 another brown band to tail tip; and this surrounded by another short cream 

 white band. There are two rows of teeth on the upper lip and three complete 

 rows on the lower as in the case of some of the frogs." This tadpole de- 

 scribed is of Hyla femoralis not Acris gryllus. It is one of the mistakes one 

 assesses to pioneer work. 



On Jan. 20, 1923 (p. 406) we corrected this description to ^' Acris gryllus 

 — very long, black-tipped tails and projecting spiracular tube." 



LARVAL PERIOD 



Abbott (1882, p. 707) writes 'T did not succeed in following the various stages 

 of developmental growth from the egg to the matured animal, but was enabled 

 to determine that it was more protracted than in the case of the common 

 tree-toad (Hyla versicolor). The difference is, I believe, quite seven weeks." 



Hay (1892, p. 462) believed they were breeding March 8 and he ''recorded 

 transformation Sept. i. This would give 176 days or almost six months, 

 rather a long period, though twenty-five days or a month in March could be 

 given to hatching of the eggs." 



When we believed Hyla femoralis tadpoles to be Acris gryllus we wrote 

 (1920, p. 33) "The tadpole of the cricket frog develops in about the same 

 length of time as that of the peeper. The tadpoles of the former (cricket frog) 

 transform the same season the eggs are laid and seldom exceed i 1/2 inches in 

 length." We have had no opportunity of comparing Acris gryllus and Hyla 

 crucifer tadpoles in the same locality. The above may be true and it may be 

 false. At that time our evidence seemed to imply 60-80-90 days larval period. 



In one pond in 192 1 our first record of breeding comes May 26 and other 

 breeding notes to June 3. Our first transformation came June 16, 17 and 

 July 2, July 23. Manifestly the intervals of 13, 23 and 27 days do not seem 

 reasonable but 59 days from May 2 6- July 23 or 50 days from June 3 -July 23 

 seem nearer the truth. These June 16 and 17 transformations are from an 

 earlier breeding so it may have been for the July 2 and July 23 transforma- 

 tions. In another pond we found great activity on Apr. 24 when a pair was 

 recorded. The same pond had transformation June 3 and 4 and July 23. 

 This gives conjectural periods of 41-90 days. 



On Billy's Island we have several transformations July 23, 26, 27, also 

 July 3-12 and June 15. Some breedings in these places May 13 and 12 and 

 Apr. 24-28 give 32, 33, 48, 52, 59, 60, 66, 70, 70, 71, 75, 79, 86, 90, 90, 94 days 

 of larval life, or an average of 67 days. Put in another way the first breeding 

 evidence came Apr. 24, our first transformations were June 3, June 4 and 

 June 16 or 40, 41 and 53 days but our entry Apr. 22 or 23 into the swamp 

 precluded earlier records than Apr. 24 by us and these early Acris transforma- 

 tions were probably from earlier breedings than Apr. 24. 



In 1922 we have evidences of 60, 68, 69, 71 and 78 days as possible larval 

 periods. None of this evidence is positive. Fifty to ninety days seem within 

 reason as the probable period. 



