Rana aesopus 347 



gopher frog was clearly foreshadowed. Although the mature R. aesopus 

 tadpoles are very much like those of R. sphenocephala they are too big for 

 the latter species. No doubt in their earlier stages they may cause workers 

 difficulties for some time to come. 



LARVAL PERIOD 



When we arrived on June 11, 1922, residents held that frogs of many 

 species were calling and active about two weeks before in very heavy rains of 

 that period. Inasmuch as this form is so strongly of the R. pipiens group in 

 breeding habits I believe it has about the same larval period, i.e., about 75 to 

 90 days. The transforming gopher frogs of August 25 to September 15 were 

 doubtless from eggs laid between May 25 to June 5. For example, at Hilliard, 

 Fla., straight east of Chesser Island and across St. Mary's River the precipita- 

 tion from May 25 to June 5 was 13.37 inchesor3.3oinchesMay 28,3. 2oonMay 

 31 and 2.80 inches on June i. In this same period Glen St. Mary south about 

 10 miles had 10.66 inches. This would mean a larval period of 85-^106 days. 



TRANSFORMATION 



Period. After the discovery of the suspected R. aesopus tadpoles, it was 

 a whole month before we were positive that these tadpoles of several open 

 ponds on Trail Ridge were actually R. aesopus larvae. For example our notes 

 would run somewhat as follows: "Aug. 9. Holt's pond, east of Starling Branch 

 Crossing. Found several of the tadpoles like those of Nigger Pond, Hypericum 

 fasciculatum pond and other Old Okefinokee Road ponds. They are very 

 large with no leg buds apparent or leg buds are very small. Tadpoles too big 

 for Rana sphenocephala J ^ On August 21, 1922, in one pond we secured them 

 at an advanced two-legged stage. Two days later, three-legged stages were 

 recorded. The illustration represents an individual with the right arm appear- 

 ing before the one of the spiracular side. On the same day one or two had 

 reached the four legged, long tail stage. On August 25 the short tailed four- 

 legged stage was reached. These were carried in a tin can on the running 

 board of the Ford on our northward journey and on August 27 and 28, 1922, 

 completed transformation. These are the only observations on actual trans- 

 formations. Many of the tadpoles of these open ponds probably would not 

 have transformed before September 15 or October i. It is very doubtful 

 that the tadpoles fromtheeggs of August 17, 1922, transformed before October 

 20 or November i. On October 26, 1922, Thomas HalHnan found a specimen 

 just past transformation. Transformation may then be from August 15- 

 November i. But if this species begins breeding in late February or March 

 Deckert's transformation must come by May i or before. What puzzled 

 us was our absence of any records of transformed individuals from June 1 1- 

 August 25. We left August 25 and, therefore, had no opportunity to watch 

 the dispersal of the newly transformed frogs, their choice of habitat, etc. 



Size. The transforming frogs of August 22-27, 1922, from a pond near 

 Chesser School (see U. S. Geo. Survey quadrangle), Ga., measured 28, 32.5 

 and 33 mm. respectively. On the basis of tadpoles approaching transforma- 



