Rana grijlio 377 



HATCHING PERIOD 



The eggs of the morning of May 24 were about hatching on that date. If 

 they were laid on the night of May 21-22 or on that of May 20-21 we would 

 have 56 to 78 hours elapsing previous to hatching. On May 21 on Billy's 

 Lake one of the boys found fresh eggs in the afternoon. Those eggs found May 

 24 were probably laid at the same time or about 78-80 hours after deposition. 

 With temperatures of 65-95° obtaining it is easy to expect that 2-3 days 

 would be a normal period for these surface eggs. Often in shallow water or 

 surface water at this time the temperatures were 85-90°. 



MATURE TADPOLE 



Color description from life. Belly is between citron yellow and pale lemon 

 yellow or lemon yellow with a prominent reticulation of brownish black. On 

 the sides the lemon yellow spots are surrounded sometimes by pinkish vinace- 

 ous or orange vinaceous, or coral pink. All the throat region back to the pec- 

 toral region is a clear black. Across the pectoral region is apple green or 

 light bice green. On either side of the throat and below the eye and over the 

 snout and in front of nostril are spots of belly color. Over the back overlaying 

 black spots and between them is forest green or dark green or elm green. 

 When a tadpole is young it has a pinkish vinaceous line of spots or stripe on 

 the upper jaw to be. 



Tail. The lemon yellow spots on the sides are also on the base of the 

 muscular part of the tail as more or less rounded spot with more prominent 

 pinkish vinaceous. About an inch from the base of the muscular part the 

 spotting goes along on to the middle of the muscular part for an inch or less 

 as a long band of pinkish vinaceous or as a row of spots. Below this band are 

 some rounded pinkish vinaceous spots like the band. Those extend on to the 

 lower crest. More or less of a long black line of spots above this pinkish 

 vinaceous band. This black line starts in the middle of the muscular part 

 but as it approaches the tip of the tail it bends down toward the muscular 

 black line. LTpper crest with no yellow or whitish spots. Lower crest with 

 many spots for first two inches. 



Pupil yellow or bronzy-rimmed. Iris flecked all over with bronzy. Back- 

 ground of iris purplish. One looked greenish like the body color. 



General appearance. Tadpole quite large (100 mm.) with black gular 

 area and speckled belly which is so heavily pigmented the intestine does not 

 show through in preserved specimens. Ventral contour narrower than in R. 

 catesbeiana and more of the R. clamitans type. Tail elongate, tip sharply 

 acuminate. Dorsal crest at widest part about equal or slightly less than width 

 of musculature, and extending on to dorsum slightly ahead of the vertical 

 through the buds of the hind legs. Spiracle sinistral, just visible from the 

 dorsal aspect, obliquely directed upwards and backwards, opening elliptical 

 but little revealed from side. Spiracle opening just touches lateral axis 

 (muscular axis). Eye on or just above lateral axis. 



Anus, dextral, opening at edge of ventral aspect. 



