No. 515] 



THE AMERICAN TOAD 



(553 



larger females four are not uncommon. The time re- 

 quired for oviposition varies between six and eighteen 

 hours. 



The number of eggs in spawns may be said to vary 

 with the sizes of the toads. Thus females 6 cm. long lay 



about 4,000 eggs while a toad 9 cm. long may lay 15,000. 

 The smallest spawn observed consisted of 3,929 eggs and 

 the largest 15,835. These were laid in the laboratory. 



On making some computations on the largest spawn, 

 we find that the eggs weigh 38 grams and with the 

 gelatinous covering, 394 grams. This latter weight is 

 about five times the weight of the toad. Again, allowing 

 a space of 1.5 mm. for each egg, we get 41 meters, or 134 

 feet as the length of the strings. 



Only the males trill or make any sounds. While trill- 

 ing the mouth and nostrils are closed and a pouch under 

 the throat is inflated. Trilling in the full strong note 

 was observed only in connection with mating. Miss 

 Dickinson describes the call as follows : 



The sustained note is not only high pitched and tremulous, it seems 

 to have a dual character as though a low note was droned at the same 



