229 . 



FRANCIS H. BEOWN, M.D. Herpetology. 



CHARLES PICKERING, M.D. Ethnology. 

 WILLIAM T. BRIGHAJM, Mineralogy. 



Crustacea. 



conchology. 



cabinet-keeper, 

 CHARLES STODDER. 



Mr. F. W. Putnam made some statements concerning the 

 Frogs and Toads found about Cambridge, Mass. 



He stated that he had for several years past been searching for the 

 eggs of the little Piping-fi-og, Hylodes Pickeringii Holbrook, but had 

 not met with success until the present season. On the 1 7th of April, 

 after watching the movements of these frogs, in the ditch on the 

 Museum grounds, he concluded that the eggs were laid among the 

 grass and floating water-plants, and upon carefully examining these 

 plants he discovered a number of eggs. These eggs were not in a 

 mass, or in a string, as is the case with the eggs of our other frogs and 

 toads, but were isolated, being attached to the plants some distance 

 apart. The tadpoles were hatched in about twelve days and were 

 very long, coming from the eggs with a more marked tadpole form 

 than is the case with our other species of frogs and toads with which 

 he was acquainted. 



The eggs of the Wood-frog, Rana sylvadca Le Conte, were found, 

 for the first time, on the 18th of April. They were in a mass, about 

 three inches in diameter, and attached to a spear of grass. The tad- 

 poles were hatched in about six days. 



The Toads, Bufo americanus Le Conte, were laying their eggs on 

 the 24th of April, and in about ten days the tadpoles were hatched. 



The Scaphiopus solitarius Holbrook, appeared in their old place, 

 near the Botanical Gardens, in large numbers, on the 1 9th of April, 

 and commenced the same day to lay their eggs in bunches of about 

 one, two, and three inches in diameter ; these bunches were floating on 

 the water and were not attached to the grass, as was the case when 

 seen in previous years. On the 29th of April, another set of Scaphio- 

 pus visited the place, and laid eggs which were attached to the grass 

 as formerly. The tadpoles of this species are hatched in about six 

 days. 



On the 29th of April, several peculiar strings, or bands of eggs were 

 found ; these strings consisted of three rows of eggs enclosed in one 

 envelope. The tadpoles were hatched In five days. These may prove 

 to be of some species of Tree-toad, Hyla. 



Rana Catesbiana, R. fontinalis, R. palusiris, and R. halecina, have 

 not laid their eggs up to the present time. 



