122 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 85 



Fifty-three species of birds are recorded as preying on Ranidae, of 

 which the common crow is the most voracious (numbers as high as 

 24 and 29 individual frogs being counted in stomachs of this species), 

 and has the largest number of records (197). Thirty-four frogs were 

 found in the stomach of one little blue heron. 



Among 14 species of toad eaters, the following are most important: 

 common crow 16 records, red-tailed hawk 10, red-shouldered hawk 

 9, and broad-winged hawk 9. The most frequent consumer of 

 salamanders also is the common crow with 83 records. 



Total number of identifications of amphibians, 997 ; percentage of 

 identifications among those of all vertebrates, 7.4844 ; percentage of 

 species in this class among those of all nearctic vertebrates, 2.8313. 



Other enemies.- — Fishes occasionally eat the eggs of toads and 

 frequently devour tadpoles of both toads and frogs, and the larger 

 predacious fresh-water fishes are fond of frogs. The bullfrog 

 especially preys upon other frogs and the gopher frog is a special 

 enemy of toads. The Anura more or less frequently are cannibalistic 

 upon the young of their kind, while larvae of salamanders regularly 

 devour their brethren. Aquatic salamanders also eat the eggs and 

 larvae of frogs. Snapping turtles, soft-shelled turtles, and alligators 

 prey upon frogs, but it is particularly among snakes that the most 

 deadly enemies of the Anura occur. The garter snakes and hog-nosed 

 snake are especially fond of toads, while snakes in general eat frogs 

 and also salamanders. In their account of the " Snakes of Okefinokee 

 Swamp," Wright and Bishop report that : " With the larger snakes, 

 the food most generally sought is Anura or Amphibia in general. 

 It is par excellence the food of the aquatic snakes, and with these four 

 or five species it is usually some species of Raiia, though Acris, Choro- 

 philus or Hyla may rarely appear as their prey. Equally important 

 are frogs in the food of the larger land snakes, five species being 

 addicted to them. With these the southern and oak toads (Bufo) are 

 easily of first importance, with the tree frogs (Hyla) and the narrow- 

 mouthed frog (Engystoma) occupying second and third places. In 

 fact, these 10 snakes prefer the soft-bodied frogs and toads to any 

 other food of the swamp (reptilian eggs not considered)." (Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 67, p. 147, Apr. 191 5.) 



Among mammals the skunk is known to be fond of toads, and 

 coyotes, skunks, weasels, minks, otters, wildcats, and the brown rat 

 feed upon frogs. No doubt most of these animals will take sala- 

 manders also when the opportunity occurs ; the little spotted skunk 

 and coyote are definitely known to do so, one stomach of the latter 

 animal yielding 15 Auibysloina. The mongoose was found to feed 



