4o8 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



more than 2x2x1 inches. This species doubtless Hke others lays many 

 complements in special areas. 



Mr. S. C. Bishop on July 13, 1923, at Adirondack Lodge "found one small 

 lot of eggs (12) on the sandy bottom of the lake in about 8 inches of water. 

 They were being eaten by a newt when found. Either the newt may have 

 carried them there or they may have been a few laid by a female which laid 

 a few before the main ovulation. On July 13 p. m., day mostly bright 

 and windy. Found three egg masses of the mink frog {Rana septentrionalis 

 Baird) fastened to the stems of the yellow cow lillies. They were attached 8, 

 12 and 18 inches below the surface in plinth masses from 4 to 5 1/2 inches in 

 largest diameter. The lilies are 4-6 rods from the shore in 6-8 feet of water. 

 Lost one egg mass. The egg mass is slightly heavier than the water and sinks 

 slowly when detached. July 14. Found 2 egg masses. This date ist — about 

 16 to 18 inches below the surface. The embryos already hatching. 2nd lot. 

 2 feet below surface, freshly laid, collected and photographed. Newts very 

 common in the lake are the enemies of the eggs and embryos. In mass of 

 hatching young one newt was found in middle of the mass. In attempting 

 to photograph eggs in lake newts came and attempted to crawl into the mass. 

 During the day many males left the open lake to hide along the shore. Eggs 

 are apparently laid at night — at least we could find no females in act of laying 

 during the day or early night when using the flashlight nor in the early 

 morn at 5 130 a.m. 



"July 15, a.m. Dark and rainy. Three egg masses found. One lot 4 1/2- 

 5 feet below the surface; the 2nd with embryos ready to leave egg mass 3 

 feet below the surface was 6 inches in greatest diameter, and the jelly ready 

 to disintegrate; the third mass 18-20 inches below the surface. July 15 p.m. 

 Two egg masses one about 4 feet below surface in 7 feet of water was 6 inches 

 in long diameter and fastened to two stems of yellow lily (Nymphaea varie- 

 gata). The mass (well developed embryos) was longer than wide with the 

 supporting stems running through one side; 2nd egg mass smaller about 

 2x4 inches and 3 feet below the surface." 



I have long felt they laid far below the surface on water lilies and Mr. 

 Bishop told me how he proceeded. At first he found eggs by casual obser- 

 vation from the boat. Then later he had some one row him about and he 

 laid on his stomach in the prow and in this water discovered masses 4-5 feet 

 below the surface. On July 16 I received the following in a letter dated 

 July 8 and written by S. E. R. Simpson at Dorset, Ontario: 



"I believe I have found the mink frog eggs. They are in a long brown 

 ribbon-like mass rounded. The eggs are very small and oval shaped, not 

 round. They were attached to the stems of weeds either floating at the 

 surface or else half way between the bottom and the top. I found them at 

 Peat Lake all along the shore among the lily pads. If I have any luck I should 

 be able to get some tadpoles. There are lots of them and we got about 18 

 bunches." In this same place, I collected adult frogs in 19 12 and in 19 19 

 in the middle and last of August Mr. Simpson took sixty or more with a net 

 from the lily pads. 



