Rana aesopus 343 



bred from late February to August 17, the bulk of the ovulation comes before 

 summer or possibly it starts early and continues intermittently until Septem- 

 ber like its relative R. sphenocephala. The period of ovulation, as we ourselves 

 know it for eggs is from July 17-August 17. Mature tadpoles discovered 

 July i8-August 25 indicate that the eggs must have been laid in the late 

 spring at least, late April or in early May. We, therefore, derive a period 

 from late April to mid August. 



Since the above evidence was considered, we found Prof. T. Van Hyning's 

 (1923, p. 68) pertinent note "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 . . . eight specimens of the 

 Gopher Frog, Rana aesopus (Cope) .... 



"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. . . ." 



Temperature and humidity. The data for August 17, 1922, is as follows: 

 The maximum air temperature for the day before for nearby localities was 

 from 18-91°, average 87°, or for the day of the record 82-91°, average 86°, the 

 minima 69-72°, average 70°, and 69-74°, average 72° respectively. AtHilliard 

 on August 16, 1922, .56 inches of rain fell, on August 17, 3.47 inches or 4.03 

 inches in two days or 7.03 inches from August 16-21. For July 17, 192 1, we 

 derive 85-87°, average 86° air maxima for the day before and 83-88° for the day 

 of the record, average 85°, minima for the day preceding 69-7 2 °, average 70° and 

 68-74°, average 71°, the precipitation for day before was heavy as much as an 

 inch or more. At camp on July 17, 192 1, it was 75° at 7:30 a.m. 



The tadpoles of the summer must have been from eggs laid the last of 

 May or the first of June, 1922. From May 25 to June 4 at Hilhard there 

 were 6 days of .90 iriches of rain or more, at Glen St. Mary's seven days, the 

 total at Hilliard was 13.33 inches, at Glen St. Mary's 11.93 inches. It would 

 seem these eggs must have been laid May 26-28 or May 30- June i when there 

 was as much as 4-6 inches of precipitation in three days. If these July and 

 August records be late breeders apparently an inch or more of rain is needed 

 to start the stragglers for breeding and air temperatures of 68-74°, average 

 71° or 81-91° maxima, average 86° seem to obtain. 



Egg-laying process. This species we did not observe in the egg-laying 

 process. In its breeding habits it is so like the meadow frog we could readily 

 believe it lays its mass as does this species. Doubtless the oviposition when 

 once begun is completed in 5-15 or 20 minutes. Very evidently one position 

 is maintained throughout the process. 



EGGS 



Attachment, egg mass. On August 17, 1922, we found several masses of 

 gopher frogs eggs laid in a cypress pond. On the north edge in water 6-8 

 inches deep and 30 feet from the edge of the pond I found at the base of a 

 small cypress (10 feet high) and amongst some brush a mass attached to an 

 upright twig. It was one inch below the surface, was a phnth of eggs black 



