304 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



the road. All in all it is primarily a mainland tree frog with preference for 

 cypress or gum ponds not so dense as the cypress bays or the ponds of 

 some islands. It incHnes to more open cypress ponds or cutoff cypress ponds. 



Period. In 191 5 Deckert (p. 5) writes "I have never heard this species 

 call except during the breeding season which lasts from March to June, be- 

 ginning with the first warm rains." In 192 1 we were in the swamp from last of 

 April to September but in the center the species is scarce. In 1922 we were at 

 Chesser Island from mid- June to mid-September. Based on these two 

 summers' experience in 1923 (p. 34) we wrote "From June ist to loth three 

 species begin (to breed), one of which was Hyla gratiosa.'" In 1924 (p. 378) 

 we gave "Season June 10 to August 21." The few ovulations in summer in 

 192 1 and 1922, and its breeding after a severe storm in August 1922 with 

 Rana aesopus and ScapMopus holbrookn spring breeders led us to conclude it 

 to be a spring breeder with some tardy ovulation in summer to September i , 

 The period seems March to August. One might suspect that the late breeders 

 were younger breeders. This is not always the case. Since this was written 

 we have noted the observations of Prof. T. Van Hyning (1923, p. 68) on these 

 very three species. He writes: "On the night of March 18, while some of the 

 boys of the biological class of the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., 

 were collecting frogs, among other species taken, were thirty specimens of the 

 Florida Tree Frog, Hyla gratiosa LeConte; . . . These and other species were 

 all in a pond breeding near the University. One of the party collected eggs, 

 and brought living specimens which have spawned since, and is keeping records 

 on the incubation and development of each species. 



"As there seems to be little really known concerning the breeding, es- 

 pecially of the . . . Florida Tree Frog, I consider the incident worth recording." 



Temperature and humidity. (See voice for discussion of rain and tempera- 

 tures of choruses). On the dates when ovulation or mating occurred the 

 maxima averaged 90° and minima 71°. They were always preceded by heavy 

 rains. 



Egg-laying process. We did not see the process in our captive pairs. In 

 nature Deckert (19 15, p. 5) says "The eggs are laid singly and sink to the 

 bottom of the pool." Whether they swim from place to place on the bottom 

 ovulating and fertilizing one egg at a time, or whether they ovulate and 

 fertilize several or one at the surface and let them or it sink needs to be ob- 

 served. The eggs are certainly disposed on the bottom. 



EGGS 



Attachment, egg )nass. On July 17, 192 1, about 11:00 a.m. we "went 

 to Hyla gratiosa pond. Cypress trees scattering with hurrah bushes (Leucothae) 

 around them. In amongst iris, fern {Woodwardia broad leaf), tussocks of 

 sedge found eggs. In water 3-6 inches deep with dip net discovered eggs 

 which seemed those of Pseudacris ocularis; later single eggs presumably 

 (Acris) with citrine upper poles and yellowish vegetative poles; and one or 

 two strings 4-6 eggs of Bufo quercicus. The supposed Acris eggs are loosely 

 attached to sedge or grass blades or oftener to sphagnum moss on the bottom. 



