43 2 Frogs of the Okefinokee Swamp 



General remarks. On April 28 we found mature tadpoles of R. spheno- 

 cephala. They are all in the same stage therefore not Rana clamitans. Other 

 reasons are : they have bronzy bellies like R. pipiens but the tail has prominent 

 black blotches unlike northern R. pipiens. 



LARVAL PERIOD 



Of this common frog we have little data on the actual larval period. 

 Eggs laid April 24, 192 1, and hatched April 28 were tadpoles with two large 

 hind legs June 17 and transformed July 4 or 71 days from egg deposition or 

 67 days from hatching. Others were transforming in some places July 23 

 or go days from laying. This gives 67-86 days for larval period. Much the 

 same period for the northern meadow frog. Frankly I believe the period 

 shorter in the south. Eighty-six days are probably too long for the period in 

 general and many may not live as much as 67 days as larvae. In 192 1 we 

 found this species transforming as early as April i to April 30. This means at 

 the "67-86 days" determination eggs laid as early as January 23 or January 4 

 or February 22 or February 3. In these winter months possibly earlier eggs 

 and longer period. In general I suspect 50-75 days may prove to be nearer 

 the true larval period. 



TRANSFORMATION 



Period. In 19 12 we found shortly after our entrance (May 25) into the 

 swamp, transformed specimens. The records are for May 28, 29, June i, 3, 

 6, 12, 24. In 1921 we recorded transformed and transforming specimens 

 April I, May 4, July 4. In 1 910 Professor J. C. Bradley secured them in 

 September and October. In 1922 we secured them transforming July 4 and 

 August 14. We thus have every month from April to October for trans- 

 formation. No doubt every month in the year some southern meadow frogs 

 transform though they are called "vSpring Frogs" as breeders. 



Size. Under growth we concluded that 20-23 mrn- represented the range 

 of transformation. On June 24, 1912, on Billy's Island we found mature 

 tadpoles and transforming frogs. Twelve of the latter measured 18, 18, 19, 

 20, 20, 21, 21, 22, 22, 22, 22, 23 mm. respectively, the mode 22 mm., the 

 average 21 mm. On July 23, 192 1, on the same island we took 19 transformed 

 and transforming specimens in ditches beside the lumber railroad. They 

 measured 22, 23, 24, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25, 26, 26, 26, 26, 27, 27, 27-29, 30 

 mm. respectively, the mode 25 mm., the average 24 mm. The total range 

 of the two lots is 18-30 mm., the mode 25 mm., the average 23 mm. The 

 total range of our recorded specimens is 18-33 mn^- 



General reinarks. In this species the black spots on the tadpole tail 

 before transformation are very conspicuous. In this regard they seem 

 different from our northern Rana pipiens tadpole (of Ithaca, N. Y.) just 

 before transformation. 



This species shows considerable variation in transformation sizes. Why 

 one group should range from 18-23 mm., another from, 22-30 mm. and 

 another (not mentioned before) from 26-33 mm. is hard to explain. Are 



