292 Fortieth Annual Meeting 



the same manner with the exception that we provide a 

 hibernating place. This is in the shape of a hole from 3 

 to 4 feet in diameter and about the same in depth. 



To one having no experience, the propagation of frogs 

 would seem a very easy proposition ; but never was there a 

 greater mistake. In the early springtime one can pass 

 through any section of the country and find every pool 

 black with tadpoles, which would seemingly promise mil- 

 lions of frogs. But go back over the same ground in the 

 autumn and the number of frogs you will find will not be 

 very large. 



Since this work has been taken up by the department, we 

 find the people so impressed with its importance that we are 

 simply flooded with applications for frogs. 



DISCUSSION 



Dr. Theodore Gill, Washington, D. C. : The habits of our batra- 

 chians are not so well known as they might be, but still they are not 

 entirely unknown, and within the last few years have been the subject 

 of investigation by several members of the Cornell University staff, 

 and especially by Dr. Wright. Distinctive characters have been found 

 in the eggs and in the mode of oviposition as well as in the habits of 

 the larvae after exclusion from the egg, and information on these 

 points doubtless could be obtained. Some publication has been made 

 also in Tlie American Naturalist, but as yet we know comparatively 

 little concerning the young of these batrachians compared to what 

 they know in Europe. 



In Europe the mode of oviposition, manner of the assemblage of the 

 eggs, and all the details of the early life history of frogs, as well as 

 toads, their relatives, have been made known, and especially they have 

 been made known in a beautifully illustrated work by Dr. George A. 

 Boulenger, published by the Ray Society about ten years ago, on the 

 subject of "The Batrachians of Europe" (in two volumes). Much in- 

 formation relevant to our own species of frogs might be found there. 



Mr. Safford : I wish to state that I have a series of specimens of 

 frogs, from the hatching egg to the fully-developed frog, which I 

 should be g'ad to exhibit to any of you who may feel an interest in 

 the matter. 



President : Please bring them to the aquarium tomorrow morning. 

 That will be the best way. 



