360 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



July 24 the eggs were found at Camp Pinckney. There were no rains at 

 Chesser Island, Hilliard, St. George that day or before. Temperatures were 

 minima 69°-7i°, maxima 9o°-95°. More often I believe precipitation or con- 

 siderable humidity precede laying, but the above data shows laying without 

 previous precipitation. The minima range from 66°-73°. Our conclusions for 

 Ithaca were that the species begins breeding normaliv at 6 5 "-7 4°. 



Egg-laying process. Every egg mass recorded m 1912, 192 1 and 1922 was 

 a continuous film implying that the pair do not move about during oviposition. 

 In some cases little packets are found scattered on the water amongst float- 

 ing vegetation. We have assumed that currents, floods, etc., have broken the 

 original mass in these cases, yet it is possible an occasional pair may move 

 about during ovulation (e.g., as in Hyla versicolor). 



EGGS 



Attachment. In 191 2 the film taken June 9 was amongst some pine needles 

 at the edge of the pond in a hammock and the other masses were about the 

 edges and attached to growing vegetation. On July 5, 1921, we found at 

 least 5 masses in all, four in one pond and another in a large pond. "The first 

 was surrounded by vegetation and grass. A Myrica was overhanging. An- 

 other mass was at the base of a gum tree in small weeds. The third mass was 

 in shallow overflow water amongst some growing weeds. The fourth mass 

 was also amongst weeds and more or less broken up into packets. The fine 

 mass was attached to the base of a gum tree. There were several male Rana 

 clamitans around. The masses at a little distance can be easily seen because 

 of a vegetative scum or oily scum or air bubbles amongst the eggs. The mass 

 often looks blackish and is sharply outlined on the surface as with films of 

 Hyla femoralis eggs." 



Egg mass. In 191 2 we recorded only the film form for this species in 

 Okefinokee Swamp. On July 5, 192 1, we found one mass 6 x 12 inches in 

 diameter. Seldom does either diameter reach a foot. 'Tt is on the surface 

 of the water, one continuous film, each egg not appearing to be separate in 

 the film as in Gastrophryne eggs." We found another mass 9 x 10 inches 

 in diameter and another mass 10x10 inches. In all there were four masses in 

 one small pond. In general the green frogs of Okefinokee seem smaller than 

 some of the north and the egg complements are smaller. One complement of 

 July 15, 1932, we counted. "The total count of the eggs was 1451. This was a 

 small complement. I hold the complements here (Okefinokee) get twice as large." 



Egg description. In 19 14 we described the eggs of Rana clamitans at 

 Ithaca as follows: "The eggs have white vegetative and black animal poles. 

 The outer envelopes range from 5.6 to 6.0 mm. in diameter, 5.7 mm. being 

 the average, 6.0 mm. the mode. The middle envelope may be other than 

 spherical and often has an elliptical form; it varies from 2.8-4.0 mm. in dia- 

 meter, the average is 3.3 mm., the mode 3.0 mm. The vitellus ranges from 

 1.2 to 1.7 mm., the average 1.4 mm., the mode 1.2 mm." 



In 191 2 amongst some of the Okefinokee green frogs we noted some eggs 

 with elliptical inner envelopes. 



