1909.] THE CAYUGA LAKE BASIN, N. Y. 405 



28. Family Hylid^e. The Tree Frogs. 



76. Hyla versicolor Le Conte. Common tree toad. 



Abundant. It appears from hibernation the last of April or very 

 first of May. The eggs are laid the first of June in bunches of 

 from four to twenty-five, which float at the surface either attached 

 to vegetation or free. Transformation begins the first of August 

 making the larval period of from fifty to sixty days duration. The 

 latest fall record for this species is October 25, 1905. 



yy. Hyla pickeringii (Holbrook). Peeper. 



Abundant. It emerges from hibernation the last of March. The 

 height of the egg-laying season is April although individuals are 

 found depositing their eggs as early as the last of March. The eggs 

 are attached singly to vegetation beneath the surface of the water. 

 Sometimes they are found in bunches of from four to twelve. 

 Transformation begins the middle of July at the end of a larval 

 period of from 90 to 100 days duration. The latest fall record is 

 October 30, 1901. 



29. Family Ranid.e. The Frogs. 



78. Rana pipiens Schreber. Leopard frog. 



The most abundant anuran throughout the basin. They come 

 out from hibernation the last of J\Iarch or the first of April. The 

 eggs are seldom deposited before April 10 from which date active 

 spawning continues for about four weeks. The tadpoles begin to 

 transform the middle of July, about 100 days after the eggs are laid. 

 The latest fall record is November 18, 1906. 



79. Rana palustris Le Conte. Pickerel frog. 



Common. The average date of its appearance in the spring is 

 April 13. In some seasons it has been found to emerge the last of 

 March. The eggs are deposited in bunches attached to submerged 

 twigs and grasses. As a rule egg-laying does not begin until the 

 last of April. They may be distinguished from the eggs of other 

 frogs of this region by their decided yellow color. The tadpoles 

 transform the last of July, about 90 days after the eggs are deposited. 

 The latest fall record for the species is November i, 1902. 



