134 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



To return to the eggs. During the time that inter- 

 vened from the laying of tlie eggs until I gathered speci- 

 mens of the tadpoles, there occurred four moderately 

 heavy showers, so tliat the water in the sink-hole at no 

 time disappeared, but was much below the level that 

 it reached during the protracted rain-fall of June 26. 

 Very much, therefore, of the spawn that was laid was 

 high and dry for from two to four days before hatch- 

 ing, and I suppose was destroyed. 



On the evening of July 9,1 found the water in the 

 sink-hole confined to a few very shallow pools of limited 

 area, and in these pools were a few hundreds of spade- 

 foot tadpoles. In comparison with the abundance of 

 eggs seen June 26, and of young seen a week later, it 

 is evident that a large portion of the eggs were destroyed 

 and a vast number of very young tadpoles were killed 

 by the soaking away of the water. 



I have never known any like disparity between the 

 eggs of frogs or common toads and the young in the 

 tadpole state ; and it is at once very evident that if the 

 spade-foot toads habitually or usually deposit their eggs 

 in temporary pools, then we have an obvious reason for 

 the positive rarity of the animal, as apparently it is the 

 rule, rather than the exception, for the egg to be de- 

 stroyed or the young perish. 



The tadpoles gathered July 9, which were then seven 

 days old, were curious creatures. At this time the 

 hind -legs were well developed, although small, and 

 did not interfere with the anmial's natatorial locomo- 

 tion. The bodies of these young Scaphiopi were short, 

 stout, and oval, and, when viewed in the water, deep 



