Gastrophri/ne carolinensis 465 



In 192 1 "we did not find the eggs of this species but the 'pipers' of June 

 6 and 7 might have been tardy breeders." 



In 1921 we have ovulation records May 20, May 21, May 22, May 26, 

 May 28, June 4, June 5, June 23, June 25, July i, July 2, July 3, July 6, 

 July 7, July 23. In 1922 we have such records on June 22, July 4, August 

 7, August 9, August 17. We have records of spent females May 23, June 8, 

 July 3, July 4, August 23, and of ripe or gravid females March, May 23, 

 June II, June 18, July 3, July 22, August, August 23. This gives breeding 

 May 23-August 23 or later. 



In 1920 (pp. 29, 30) we wrote "The narrow-mouthed toad is a form whose 

 life-history is not wholly understood .... The author's limited experience 

 with the species suggests that the eggs are usually laid during the spring or 

 early summer." In February, 1923, (p. 34) we state that "From May 15 

 on to June ist, five more start (to ovulate)." Gastrophryne carolinensis is 

 the third in the list. In 1924 (p. 378) we give the "Season, May 21 to August 

 17." The records show May, June, July and August the normal months 

 just as Brimley long ago said. Doubtless they begin earlier if our March 

 breeding (1925) date for G. texense be indicative. 



Temperature and humidity. When eggs were found the minima for the 

 day of the record varied as follows: 63-68°, average 66°, 64-70°, average 

 69.5°, 70-72°, average 71°, 69-74°, average 72° in 192 1 or 64-70°, average 

 67°, 70-72°, average 71°, and 73-74°, average 73° in 1922. These records 

 63-74° or averages 66-72° fairly represent the minimum air temperatures 

 of ovulation. The data for mated pairs are much the same. The optimum 

 temperatures are nearer the records for chorus which follow. 



The air temperatures which we recorded at camp at the time of 1 2 choruses 

 of Gastrophryne in 1921 range from 70-77°, mode 70°, average 72.5°; the 

 records of 7 fair callings range from 68-75°, average 72.5°. In 1922 for 5 

 choruses we have 70-78°, average 74°, for four voice records not chorus 

 70-77°, average 73°. Like Scaphiopus it likes drenching rains but will come 

 out on less moisture than the former. 



When these choruses, matings and ovulations came a heavy rain preceded 

 or immediately followed the activities. Usually 63-74° are frequent minimal 

 temperatues of ovulation but 70-77° seems the optima of minima. 



EGGS 



Attachment, egg mass, egg description. J. A. Ryder (1891, p. 838) is the 

 first to describe the eggs of this species. His description follows: "The 

 eggs are heavily pigmented at the upper or' animal pole, being darker than 

 the eggs of Rana, and also considerably smaller. They are laid in strings, 

 but so coiled as to form a nearly complete single layer over a considerable 

 surface of water. The gelatinous coating, as in Rana, spreads out under 

 the surface of the water, where by its adhesion to the layer of molecules at 

 the surface a certain amount of support is thus gained for the eggs. It is 

 therefore evident that surface tension is an important agent in keeping the 

 eggs of this genus, and those of Rana, at the surface of the water. Other 



