Gastrophryne carolinensis 467 



hatching. One mass near bank 4x8 inches. When I approached in the 

 water the waves separated this mass into 4 masses of 74, 71, 86 and 85 eggs." 



In 1923 (p. 34) we write that "Gastrophryne carolinensis spawns clear 

 marble-Mke eggs in films on the surface, these eggs truncated on the top." 

 In 1923 (p. 406) we hold that normally Gastrophryne carolinensis "Eggs (are) 

 laid in films." Of this species in 1924 (p. 377) we say that "One form, Gastro- 

 phryne carolinensis, although it lays at the surface, has the most beautifully 

 distinct, firm eggs of all the species considered." "Egg mass, a surface film. 

 Egg envelope outline always distinct, never lost in the mass; eggs firm and 

 distinct like glass marbles, making a fine mosaic ; envelope a truncated sphere, 

 the flat surface above; envelope single 2.8 to 4.0 mm.; vitellus i. 0-1.2 mm.; 

 color black above and white below. Egg complement 869." This egg com- 

 plement comes from the count of one of the 192 1 females. The truncated 

 envelope did not appear until Mrs. Wright tried to manipulate the eggs for 

 drawing. They were hard to turn over. 



The detailed study of several eggs by Mrs. Wright gave no inner envelope. 

 The outer envelope ranged from 2.8-4.0 mm. Of 31 eggs, 3 were at 2.8 mm., 

 II at 3.0 mm., i at 3.2 mm., 4 at 3.4 mm., 3 at 3.6 mm., 4 at 3.8 mm., and 5 

 at 4.0, average, 3.35 mm., mode 3.0 mm. Of 34 vitelli 17 were at i.o mm., 

 2 at 1. 1 mm., and 15 at 1.2 mm., or average of i.i mm. We fear that our 

 field record of some eggs brown above and yellow below are of H. femoralis. 

 Do.ubtless it is a mistaken identification when we little knew this form's eggs. 



Dangers. No species lays in more transient places than Gastrophryne 

 unless it be Bufo quercicus. W^hen one finds mated pairs hopping around in 

 sweet potato furrows or finds a congress in a wet meadow which will be 

 dry a few days later, he marvels that any of these forms come through to 

 maturity. Seemingly these subterranean forms breed right where their 

 retreat happens to be. Like Scaphiopus they wait for a drenching rain to 

 flood their locality. The toll from these transient breedings must be im- 

 mense. But even in ponds and bigger ditches great losses happen. For 

 example, on June 25, 192 1, we note: "Along the deeper ditches of west 

 negro quarters are plenty of Gastrophryne eggs. Many of these are getting 

 stranded even soon after laying. What a frightful waste there is in nature!" 

 Several times we found spoiled white eggs where the eggs were caught and 

 fastened to vegetation. Normally these eggs are free on the surface and drop 

 with the level of the surface. 



HATCHING PERIOD 



J. A. Ryder's (1891, pp. 838-840) developmental story might be apropos 

 at this point: "The development of the eggs of Engy stoma is rapid; three 

 days after deposit the larvae escape from the egg-envelopes. Throughout 

 the course of development there is well-marked evidence of geotropism, or 

 of the action of gravity in maintaining the equihbrium of the egg. The 

 animal or black pole remains uppermost, the heavier or light-colored vege- 

 tative pole remains lowermost; the whole egg is thus maintained in a position 

 of static equilibrium with the earth's center. There seems to be no tendency 



