Rana sphenocephala 427 



in river swamps, ponds, in cypress ponds and bays and in grassy borders where 

 cypress bay met the open fields of Chesser Island. 



Period. In 191 2 we found them breeding in May to July. In 19 14 

 (Deckert, 19 14, p. 5) at Jacksonville, Florida, "found their spawn, in shallow 

 bayous, in February, March, April, May, August and October." In 192 1, 

 basing our statements on 19 12 experience we wrote: "The southern leopard 

 frog, as well as the northern leopard frog, breeds normally in the spring, and 

 hence is called the 'spring frog,' but occasionally its breeding period may ex- 

 tend until July 4 or later, after the first eggs of the species are hatched and 

 the tadpoles transformed." In 1923 we (Wright, 1923, p. 34) held that 

 "From April 15 or earlier to September ist, six forms breed. . . . Rana 

 sphenocephala. . . ." In 1924 we (1924, p. 377) held "Species such as Rana 

 sphenocephala . . . which begin early in the season, breed during 25 to 30 

 weeks of the year, if not longer or from February to September or October." 

 In 1918 Pope (1919, p. 97) at Houston, Texas, on October 15, "Found three 

 clusters of hatching eggs, probably of this species, in a rain pool in woods 

 road." In 1920 Deckert (192 1, pp. 20, 21) in Dade County, Florida, writes 

 that "The writer has been expecting to hear the calls of the Southern Leopard 

 Frog, but none were heard during or after any of the heavy rains of May and 

 June. During the night of December 5, at Lemon City, after a violent thunder 

 storm the temperature dropped suddenly from 84°F. to 62°F., and when the 

 writer at 1 130 a. m. took a ramble around his yard with a lantern, he heard 

 the croak of what, according to his experience, must have been this frog. 

 The next morning was bright and quite cool, and the writer found, about 

 half a mile from his house, in a rain-ditch in a nearby rock-pit, three batches 

 of frog-spawn." 



In 192 1 we found the southern meadow frog eggs from April 23 to July 23. 

 In 1922 we found them from June 22-August 9. These accumulated records 

 of others and ours give February to December for breeding. Doubtless 

 January also has its breeding frogs. 



Temperature and humidity. Some of our records for ovulation are : 



April 23, 192 1 May 21, 192 1 July 23, 192 1 



April 24, 192 1 June 25, 192 1 June 22, 1922 



May 13, 1921 June 30, 1921 July 13, 1922 



May 16, 192 1 July 7, 192 1 August 9, 1922 



Most of these were laid at night when temperatures range from 50-70°. 

 Our day records for these ovulation records of May- July, 192 1, and June- 

 August, 1922, are from 70-78° mainly for midforenoon or earlier. In late 

 April we recorded some air temperatures of 58-65° or lower. The discussion 

 for voice is pertinent to this topic. Humidity and excessive rains are very 

 important in determining onset of breeding. 



Egg-laying process. In the field regularly and in camp usually they laid 

 plinth-like masses. We did not see the actual laying. Similarity of egg mass 

 form must make the process akin to that in R. pipiens. They do not move 

 from the stick until whole complement is laid. 



