660 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



As intimated above, the toad chorus, at different levels, may begin at 

 least as early as May 20 and last until July 9; and, according to our 

 experience, singing is carried on quite through the daylight hours and 

 into early evening at least. 



The Yosemite Toad spawns in late spring or in summer, depending 

 somewhat upon the local climate. Specimens collected on May 24 to 26, 

 1919, at Tamarack Flat showed no signs of breeding. On June 22, 1915, 

 numerous tadpoles and one recently metamorphosed young toad were seen 

 at Mono Meadow. One female taken near Porcupine Flat June 28, 1915, 

 had already laid most of her eggs. On July 16, 1915, at the head of Lyell 

 Caiion several individuals were depositing eggs. 



Our collection of Yosemite Toads includes 20 males and 28 females. 

 Upon the basis of total length the representatives of each sex fall into 

 several size groups which are quite probably age groups as well. These 

 groups indicate that about four years is required for a toad to reach adult 

 size, that males are always somewhat smaller than females of the same 

 age, and that the females do not begin to spawn until more than 2 inches 

 (50 mm.) in length, when they are presumably three years old. 



Among the females taken are three which measure less than one inch 

 (20, 22, and 23 mm.) in length. When it is recalled that toads are small at 

 the time they transform from the tadpole stage, it seems highly probable 

 that these three individuals came from eggs of the preceding season and so 

 represented animals one year old or thereabout. Another group of 12 

 ranges from about II/2 to 2 inches (33 to 49 mm.) in length; in neither of 

 these two size groups did any of the individuals show that eggs were being, 

 or had been, developed. The third group, of 9 animals, measures about 

 2^2 inches (57-62 mm.) in length; and the fourth of four individuals about 

 3 inches (70 to 74 mm.). In both the latter groups the animals were in 

 breeding condition and contained eggs. 



Male toads in the collection fall into two groups: 2 to 2I/4 inches (50 to 

 55 mm.), and around 21/2 inches (58 to 64 mm.) in length. These speci- 

 mens were practically all collected in meadow ponds or streams and were 

 breeding animals, for they have roughened brown areas on the inner digits 

 of the fore limb. They are thought to represent animals three and four 

 (or more) years of age. No males were obtained which could be called 

 younger than these. Such individuals would probably be found by careful 

 search on the upper slopes some distance from the breeding ponds. 



The food of the Yosemite Toad includes a wide variety of insects and 

 the like. One individual captured at Porcupine Flat, June 29, 1915, con- 

 tained 2 Tenebrionid beetles, several weevils of different species, numerous 

 large ants and one centipede, besides some red fir needles probably taken 

 incidentally. 



