426 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



of the snout and top of the head, and in front of eye through nostril is blackish 

 or greenish. Two or three marguerite or sea foam yellow spots behind the 

 eye. Tympanum argus brown with marguerite yellow or sea foam yellow 

 center. Stripe from under eye over angle of the mouth and just beneath 

 tympanum to over arm insertion marguerite yellow or sea foam yellow. 



Iris in front, below and behind pupil black with some pale vinaceous lilac 

 or light pinkish lilac. Rim pinard yellow. Iris above pupil maize yellow. 

 Very top of eye a small black area. 



Structural differences. The males begin to show thumbs much enlarged 

 and lateral sacs well developed when 52-58 mm. in length or when presumptive 

 2-year olds. Our largest females are from 76-81 or 82 mm.; our largest males 

 from 75-78 mm. 



Duration. Most mated pairs brought in laid the night of their capture 

 and were broken the next morning after ovulation. In a few cases where 

 impulsive males were brought in with unmated females they persisted in 

 embrace for two or three days. Observations made for R. pipiens in Ithaca 

 doubtless obtain for this species. The females probably do not come to the 

 croaking congress until ready to lay, and this may require no more than 

 15-30 minutes. 



Night or day. From April to September it came mainly at night, in 

 latter part of the night, or early in the evening from April to June. Rarely 

 by day when a thunder storm was imminent or after it had passed. 



Amplexation. — On May 16 we collected some of our first mated pairs. 

 These were all pectoral in embrace and we have recorded no other form of 

 amplexation in the species. No opportunity was given for cross embrace with 

 other species. 



OVULATION 



Habitat. In 192 1 we made these notes on places of ovulation. On April 

 24, we found them in a cypress pond. "Center of pond is clear (alligator 

 hole). Then came a circle of Pontederia in which are toad and Rana spheno- 

 cephala eggs. A circle of sedges; next came bushes; a thin Hne of gums; and 

 finally the pines." On April 28, of another pond we have these journal notes 

 "Frogs eggs . . . about 8 feet from edge of the pond in water 4-6 inches deep. 

 Two more isolated masses found each at or just below the surface and en- 

 circling the hzard's tail (Saururus) which is now in bloom." May 13 one of 

 the boys found eggs in a cypress pond. On May 22 the boys found two masses 

 in ditches beside the railroad ; also we found them in edge of cypress bay. In 

 some of the ponds just within a hammock's edge found two masses. Later 

 we found this form breeding in a sphagneous bog on one of the prairies. 



Occasionally after severe rains they lay in very temporary places. On 

 June 6, 192 1, we found them in a temporary pool in the street. On July 7 

 we discovered four masses in an open used field just north of camp and near 

 a wood pile. 



In 1922 we found masses in water filled pits on high oak-shaded bluffs, 

 beside the open road, in an open pond with saw palmetto border, but no trees. 



