April, 1908. Lakes Amatitlan and Atitlan — Meek. 191 



any lake or stream in the United States. These fish should not be 

 disturbed when they are depositing their eggs, and at other times 

 of the year only the larger ones captured should be retained, and 

 all others retiirned to the lake. Lake Amatitlan, common. 



AMPHIBIANS OF LAKES AMATITLAN AND ATITLAN. 



One toad and three frogs are the only Amphibians taken at 

 these lakes. During the winter and the dry season these animals 

 are not abundant in the tropics, and the following list is not a fair 

 index of their abundance in these places. The larger frog, Rana 

 pipiens, is the only one used for food by the natives. It occurs 

 at both lakes. For assistance in the identification of these species 

 I am indebted to Dr. L. Stejneger, Smithsonian Institution, 

 Washington, D. C. 



Family Biifoiiidte. Toads; Sapos. 



Bufo marinus Linnaeus. Toad; Sapo. 



Several toads inhabit Guatemala, but this is the only species 

 I found on the shores of Lake Amatitlan. This species deposits 

 its eggs in shallow water, and there they develop into the larval 

 or tadpole stage. In this stage they feed chiefly on algae. Al- 

 though many of them are eaten by fishes they are not abundant 

 enough to furnish any large supply of food for fishes. This toad 

 is very abundant in the West Indies, and from southern Mexico 

 to Brazil. It is one of the largest toads in Middle America. 

 Abundant on shores of Lake Amatitlan, but it does not occur at 

 Lake Atitlan. 



Family Kaiiidte. Frogs; Ranas. 



Rana pipiens Gmelin. Frogs; Rana. 



This is the larger of the two frogs found in this region. It is 

 found in wet places and in shallow water, along the shores of 

 both lakes. Its feet are webbed, a character which distinguishes 

 it from the species listed below. It deposits its eggs in shallow 



