368 ■ Frogs of the Okefiiiokee Swamp 



in forelimb; 1.04-1. 08-1. 14-1. 06 in hind foot; first toe i. 64-1. 44-1. 6-1. 49 in 

 second toe; 2. 10-2. i i-i. 93-2.0 in third toe; 2.09-2.55-2.93-2.64 in fourth toe; 

 2.23-2.1 1-2. 33-2. 17 in fifth toe; second toe i. 64-1. 46-1. 2-1. 36 in third toe; 

 1. 8-1. 76-1. 83-1. 8 in fourth toe; i. 35-1. 46-1. 45-1. 48 in fifth toe; third toe 

 1. 39-1. 2-1. 5-1. 32 in fourth toe; 1.05-1.0-1.2-1.08 in fifth toe; fourth toe 

 1.04-1.17-1.09-1.09 in hind foot; 1.0-1.08-.95-1.02 in tibia; 1.16-1.3-1.13- 

 1.13 in foreUmb; fifth toe 1.31-1.2-1.25-1.21 in fourth toe; internasal width 

 1. 88-2. 25-2. 14-2. 43 in first toe; 3-i-3-25-3-43"3-57 in second toe; 4.0-4.75- 

 4.14-4.85 in third toe; 5-55-5-75-6.3-6-43 in fourth toe; 4.02-4.75-5.0-5.3 in 

 fifth toe. 



HABITAT 



This is ideally a frog of the prairie or open centers of cypress ponds which 

 are an extension or separation from the prairie types themselves. Waterlihes, 

 hardheads (Xyris) neverwets (Orontium), wampee (Peltandra), watershield 

 (Brasenia), bladderworts ( Utricularia), floating heart ( Nymphoides) prevails. 

 Where this habitat approaches islands, bays, or a circle of trees, maiden cane 

 (Panicum), fern (Woodwardia) and duck grass (Rhynchophora) occur. Where 

 this latter assemblage of plants occur in bays, etc., Rana grylio may be or 

 where some of it may be along water courses. 



FIRST APPEARANCE 



The earliest definite date of their reappearance is Dr. Barbour's note. At 

 Palm Beach, Florida, "Rana grylio reappeared in 1920 on March 17 after not 

 being seen all winter." We have not been afield in its range except in April 

 to September in which period it was active in 1912, 1917, 1921 and 1922. 

 Deckert in observations from February 23-December 8, 1920, first heard this 

 species grunting April 4, at Musa Isle, Dade Co., Florida. 



GENERAL HABITS 



Mr. Robert Ridgway found them "so excessively shy and wary that he 

 had failed to secure any specimens" for Dr. Stejneger. "Requests were sent 

 to various correspondents to catch and forward specimens, but they were 

 equally unsuccessful." Stejneger 1901 (p. 2 1 1), also Dr. E. A. Mearns reported 

 them very difficult of capture. In 191 4 Miss Dickerson says "It seldom leaps; 

 its strong instincts when frightened are to dive and hide." Deckert found it 

 in 1911-1912 (1914, Copeia, No. 3) at Jacksonville, Florida "not rare, but 

 very shy." Later he pronounces that "It is one of the shyest of all frogs, 

 usually floating in water two or three feet deep, under branches of a floating 

 dead tree, or among other debns, so that it is almost impossible to get within 

 capturing distance without alarming it. Its size is 4 to 5 inches from snout 

 to vent." In 192 1 he writes "No effort was made to take specimens, as it is 

 impossible to secure living material during the daytime, and without a boat, 

 the species being so thoroughly aquatic and exceedingly shy." In (1920) Dr. 

 Barbour calls it "very shy and wholly aquatic." Viosca in 1918 (p. 161) 

 writes "It appears to be confined to the alluvial section of Louisiana, where it 



