Ranagrylio 379 



a dip net and smaller stages frequently come in the floating maiden cane 

 masses we often pull over the gunwale into the boat. Rarely one chances on 

 shallow water areas cut off from cypress ponds, and in these localities we had 

 our best luck. We found few mature tadpoles. 



LARVAL PERIOD 



On August 3 and 4, we found in two different ponds "plenty of R. grylio 

 tadpoles of two different sizes. Does it stay two years as a tadpole or only 

 one year as in R. clamitans? Some of them seem still to retain a black rim 

 on the lower crest ridge." Our largest R. grylio tadpole reaches 100 mm. and 

 transformation ranges from 43-51 mm. Rana catesbeiana tadpoles may reach 

 140 mm. and transform at 43-59 mm. Rana clamitans tadpoles may reach 84 

 mm. and transform at 28-38 mm. R. septentrionalis tadpoles may reach 

 99 mm. and transform at 29-40 mm. In the north R. catesbeiana takes two 

 years for transformation but some Rana catesbeiana sent by Viosca to Japan 

 developed in one year of tadpole life. Do those of Louisiana do the same? 

 If so possibly Rana grylio may transform after one year of tadpole life. It 

 may take two years in some instances even in Gulf Coast environment. 

 Some of the Rana clamitans 70-84 mm. tadpoles winter over to transform at 

 28-38 mm. Then possibly to attain greater growth R. grylio may take a 

 slightly longer period. In the South generally development progresses faster 

 and breeding periods are longer. For example, in the Northern States we 

 would be surprised to have R. catesbeiana breed in February as it did in San 

 Antonio parks February 1925. 



TRANSFORMATION 



Period. In 191 2 we had "only one transformed specimen which measures 

 44 mm. It was taken May 30, 19 12, from the stomach of a snake." 



In 192 1 we found a transformed frog April 24. 



On April 25, 192 1, we caught a young recently transformed R. grylio 

 amongst the Pontederia. Later caught a second with a stub of a tail present. 



In a cypress pond which had almost dried up we found transformed southern 

 bullfrogs. In the center was a small circular water area. "Around this small 

 pool was a large moist mud flat where a pig was rooting up frogs, etc. Under- 

 neath the mats or carpets of grass which originally was in the water found 

 little transformed R. grylio in small moist pockets dug in the mud. With them 

 were Manculus quadridigitatus, a salamander, a ring-neck snake (Diadophis 

 punctatus) and a skink. In the pool were pygmy sunfishes (Elassotna) tad- 

 poles of Rana sphenocephala and water beetles. Florida Blue Herons and 

 Florida Crackles as well as the pigs were having a feast at this pond." No 

 doubt the young southern bullfrogs suffered. 



On May 6, 192 1, Dave Lee "caught three R. grylios of three sizes from 

 Billy's Lake: i transformed; one intermediate; and one adult male." On 

 May 9 two more were taken; on May 10 we saw plenty of small southern bull- 

 frogs in one pond. On June i we saw several just transformed southern 

 bullfrogs in a pond outside the swamp. On June 15 we had some tadpoles 



