VOLUME 3 APRI L 1.s, 1944 NUM BE R 4 Log Rolling, a Iowa State Parks Provide Relaxation Pleasurable and • Profitable Pastime From Stress and Strain of War ~ffort By H. H. KNIGHT Dept. of Zoology and Entomology Iowa State College The fisherman in search of bait No Iowan Farther or the entomologist in search of insect specimens may often re­ Than 40 Miles from sort to rolling old logs for col­ lecting purposes. The writer has Recreational Spot been rolling logs periodically during the past 25 years, chiefly By G. l. ZIEMER in search of insects whtle con­ Chief lands and Waters Division ducting field trips with classes It 1s often said that a nation at in entomology. With this back­ war must see that its people-all ground as an mtroduction we will of its people-get healthful recre­ proceed with the subject m hand. ation, diversion, and relaxation to Within and beneath old logs promote individual health and na­ we find a varied assortment of tional morale. With each succeed­ life, in fact we find one ing day of war this fact becomes of the important ecological situ­ more evident. Regardless of ations in wooded areas. The age what phase of the current strug­ of a log and the of tree it gle a person is engaged in, he is represents are chief factors de­ a more efficient worker for Un­ termining what may be in or cle Sam if periodically he is re­ under the log examined. Biolo­ leased from the high mental and gists have studied logs from the physical tension of war work. viewpoint of ecological succession It is generally agreed that one of the organisms which reduce of the most satisfying tonics for the freshly fallen log through de­ Iowans are fortunate in these times of travel difficulties to have state parks and both body and spirit is found un­ cay and disintegration until it ~er the sprin? sky's blue canopy becomes a part of the soil. recreational areas so located that every citizen in the state lives within 40 miles of at I east one of them. m the open, m close communion The recently fallen log does not with Mother Nature's birds and press evenly on the soil but gener­ flowers, her bright sunshine and ally leaves spaces here and there warm breezes. Here truly do where may crawl be­ LeRoy Titus Weeks' lines neath. After a few years lying Iowa's and Toads on the ground a log gradually be­ "The sweet, warm llps of early comas partially imbedded in the By REEVE M. BAILEY descriptive notes on the song, sprmg come full upon my own; soil and consequently fewer ani­ ' geographic occurrence, and pre­ mals find a home there. PART II ferred in Iowa. The read­ They softly press and fondly When collecting insects we gen­ The first part of this article er in search of more detailed in­ cling like lips that I have erally look beneath the logs which was devoted to certain general formation, or who wishes to fa­ known. are very little imbedded in the features of the natural history of miliarize himself with frogs and Her garments touch me here and soil. However, the fisherman in Iowa's frogs and toads; their toads from other areas, is re­ there, by wanton breezes search of earthworms may find hibernation, reproductive behav­ ferred to a recent (1942) general stirred; the older logs more productive, ior, metamorphosis, seasonal ap­ handbook, "The Frogs and Toads My forehead feels her rippling especially when dryness of soil has pearance, habitat, food, conserva­ of the United States and Canada", hair, like plume of passing driven the worms deeply under­ tion, and study. This section is by A. A. Wright and A. H. bird" 1 ground in more exposed places. designed to serve as a guide to Wright • To this volume there find satisfactory interpretation. Most animals of the woodland identification by means of a key, is appended an excellent bibliog- Iowans are indeed fortunate in may at one time or another seek and a description and illustration

ROCKY MOUNTAIN TOAD (Natural Size) arboreal species. The hind foot Bufo woodhousii woodhousii G rard is provided with one or two tu­ bercles; these are not darkened IDENTIFICATION. - The largest or hardened for digging. Males of Iowa toads, body length of AMERICAN TOAD (05x) have a single vocal pouch on the adults usually thr~e to four mch­ Bufo americanus americanus Holbrook throat. The thumbs of adult es, reported to reach four and males are not swollen. The tym­ IDENTIFICATION. - Size moder­ three-fourths inches. Warts of panum is small. At metamor­ ate, body length usually about moderate size. Belly unspotted; phosis common tree frogs meas­ three mches, occasionally four or breast unspotted or with one or ure from one-half to four-fifths more. Warts very large. Breast a few dark spots. P arotoid glands of an inch in body length; the and belly more or less heavily at least as long as the distance three other species from one-third spotted or mottled with dark. separating them, long and nar­ to three-fifths of an inch. Parotoid glands large, broad, row, their width usually less closely approximated, kidney­ than half their length and typi­ shaped; their width usually more cally less than half the distance than half their length. Spots on separating them. Dark spots on back without conspicuous light back not conspicuously light l edges, each with one or two (oc­ margined; usually surrounding casionally three or four) warts. one or two (occasionally three to Ridges between eyes not uniting FOWLERS TOAD (0 8x) five) warts. A clear-cut light • to form a knob . stripe along midline of back. SoNG. - A h1gh-p1tched, pro­ Bufo woodhousii fowleri Hinckley Ridges between eyes moderately tracted, musical trill; usually of IDENTIFICATION. - The smallest developed, parallel, not uniting from 10 seconds to a minute in of Iowa toads, body length usu­ to form a knob. duration. Heard mostly from ally about two and one-half mch­ SoNG. - A low-pitched nasal mid-April until early J une. es but reported to reach three "waa-a-a-a", of less than five IOWA RANGE. - Almost state­ and one-fourth inches. Warts of second duration. Similar to that Wide; not found in the Missouri moderate size. Belly unspotted; of Fowler's toad, but somewhat River valley. It occurs common­ breast unspotted or with one or a more raucous. Most often heard ly m both bottomland and uplan d few dark spots. Parotoid glands in May and June. NORTHERN CR ICKET FROG (1 2x) areas. longer than the distance separat­ IowA RANGE. - Western two Acris crepitans Ba~rd ing them, elongate-oval in shape, tiers of counties, north to Plym­ lDENTU'ICATION. . - Size small, GREAT PLAINS TOAD their width usually more than outh County. Abundant m the max1mum body length about one Bufo cognatus Say half their length and always Missouri River valley together and one-fourth inches. Body IDENTIFICATION. - Size moder­ more than half the distance sepa­ with the Great Plains toad rather slender, snout sharp. Back ate, body length less than four rating them. Ground color of Chiefly an inhabitant of stream and legs usually with many inches. Warts smaller than in back light, but dark spots with- bottomlands. ' e ground length Fmgers scarcely webbed That the three-toed tree toad trod at base, toes well webbed, short­ est entirely included in web and But vamly the two-toed tree toad tned­ longest with a single phalanx He couldn't please her whim; h ee. Upperparts dark olive or In her three-toed bowel, w1th her V-toe power, slate-gray, the middle of back The she toad vetoed him. often with a stripe of bright -The log, Salem, Oregon green, or reddish-brown or tan. Rear surface of thighs with a ate, body length of adults one the bullfrog There are no paro­ broad lengthwise dark s t r i p e and one fourth to two and two- toid glands or cramal crests. The which contrasts sharply With hfths mches Skm granular. form is slender and moderately lighter areas above and below. Form robust, head broad, snout robust, the waist is narrow, and SoNG. - A rapid-fire succes­ bluntly rounded. Disks on fin- the h.gs are of moderate length, swn of discrete metallic clicks, gers and toes large. Legs rather or long. The fmgers are not "kic, kic, kic, . . . ", starting short, when bent forward heel webbed; the toes are alwavs at slov.•ly and mcreasing m fre­ reaches eye; tibia almost half least one-half webbed. There quency. Singing begms m late body length Fingers about one- are no d1sks on the fingers and April in southern Iowa, reaches third webbed. toes rather well- toes, and the one or two tubercles its height during May and June, webbed, shortest toes w1th one ·on the hind foot are not darkened f and continues mtermittently m­ phalanx free from web and long- or hardened for d1gging: Vocal to early August. est w1th one to two phalanges pouches are mternal or, if exter­ lOW A RANGE. - V i r l U a 1 1 y SPRING PEEPER (1.7x) free Coloration extremely var- nal, there IS one on Each side just statewide, apparently absent from Hyla cn.cif·:·r 11•/ied ied and changeabl~:.: back green, above the forelimbs. Thumb of the Blue Earth drainage m Kos­ brown or gray, usually \\ Ith an adult males markedly thickened suth and Winnebago counties. IoJ::NTIFICA'l'ION. - Size small, Irregularly blotched pattern. A at base. The tympanum IS large. Preferring sho1 es of streams and body length less than one and greemsh·white spot below eye, At h ansformation they vary in lakes. thr<::t:-eighths inche~. Skin smooth. back of thighs bright orange- length from three-fourths inch to b Body moderately robust, head yellow. ovc1 two inches. rather broad, snout rounded. I Disks on fingers and toes well SoNG - A high-pitched, ex- -- plosive, bird-like trill of about BULLFROG developed. Legs rather short, Rana catesbeiana Shaw when bent forward heel reaches four-fifths second duration. eye; tibia almost one-half body I ow A RANGE. - Generally com­ IDENTIFICATION. - The largest length. Fingers free; toes partly mon m the eastern and southern of Iowa frogs, reaching a body webbed, shortest toe with two portions of the state, elsewhere length of over seven inches. No phalanges free from web and confined to the larger wooded dorso-lateral fold (a ridge ex­ longest with two or three pha­ nver valleys. Arboreal m hab­ tends from eye backward then langes free. Back tan or brown, Its. downward behind eardrum to with characteristic oblique cross near front of forelimb). Longest of darker brown. TYPICAL FROGS toe with only one phalanx free from the almost complete web­ SoNG. - A shrill, high, clear, FAMILY RANIDAE single-note whistle; repeated at bmg Legs of moderate length, intervals. The call has a pierc­ The typical frogs are aquatic tibia less than half body length. ing quality, and the ears of a to largely terrestrial species of 1 Skin of back roughened with listener located in a strong chorus moderate to large size. The skm small tubercles. Back with a few STRIPED CHORUS FROG (1 2xl of the belly is smooth, that of the more or less indistmct dark Pseudacns tnseriata (Wiedl soon ring unpleasantly. The strongest choruses are heard from Sides and back smooth or with a spots, belly often heavily mar­ IDENTIFICATION. - Size small, mid-March, in southern Iowa, to number of raised ridges and tu- bled with dark. The vocal body length less than one and late April, in northern Iowa bercles A dorso-lateral fold is pouches are internal. three-eighths inches. Body slen­ IowA RANGE. - The eastern present in all our species except

four inches or less.r~·sQ:;\a.tttr.a 1 flj~ "' ir~_...jb..e well-developed not uniform, but heavily mottled Frogs and Toads folds extending alM61;'t' 6~vqu" wM>'tfn\g.OU~y slender; legs or reticulated with dark. Belly (Contmued from Page 28) to groin. Longest toe with two long, tibia decidedly more than white. Upper Jaw and snout phalanges free from the well- half body length. Skin of sides mottled with dark and light, with SoNG. - A deep, sonorous bass, developed webbing. Body slen- and back roughened with a few no clear-cut hght stripe from br-wum, of exceptional carrying der; legs long, tib1a decidedly small tubercles and several elan­ snout to below tympanum. Vo­ power. Heard from mid-April more than half body length. Skin gate ridges, the latter usually re­ cal pouches of males prominent, until July. of s1des and back roughened with stricted to back. Upperparts external, located between tym­ lOW A RANGE - Probably ori­ many small tubercles and several tendmg to be uniformly bronzed panum and forelimb. ginally confined to the southern ~lo ngate ridges, the latter best or brassy; usually with definite SoNG. - A deeply sonorous two or three t1ers of counties developed on back. Upperparts ..>enes of more or less rectangular and resonant "w-a-a-ah"; loud across the state and the Missis­ uniformly green, gray-green, or .;pots, each set off clearly from and of exceptional carrying qual­ sippi and lower Iowa rivers. In­ bronze; with many irregularly the ground color. Belly white, ity. From mixed choruses this troduced in Boone, Greene, Polk, arranged, smoothly rounded dark groin and undersurface of hind stands out above the others; and probably other counties. :;pots, each set off clearly from legs bnght yellow; edge of lower clearly audible for over half a Found in and near permanent .he ground color. An occasional jaw with dark markings. A dark mile. The strong choruses are and streams. .>pecimen lacks the dark spots. stripe from corner of eye to tip heard in April. Belly and lower surfaces of legs of snout, and a clear-cut light GREEN FROG white; throat white or with dark stnpe on upper jaw from snout IowA RANGE. - The south­ Rana clamitans Latreille markings. A clear-cut light stripe to below eardrum. Vocal pouch­ eastern portion of the state; known only from Appanoose, ~ oENTIFICA TION - Body length on upper jaw from snout to below es small, external, located be­ four mches or less. Dorso-lateral eardrum. Vocal pouches small, tween tympanum and forelimb. Dav1s, J efferson, Van Buren, fold present, incomplete, extend­ and Wayne counties. Found in ing only two-thirds to three­ SoNG. - Low in pitch (but n ot low meadows and pastures; com­ fourths distance from eye to so low as in the leopard frog) monly m crayfish burrows. (See groin. Longest toe with one and and weak m volume. It has been map.) one-half to two phalanges free descnbed as "a gently musical from the well developed webbing. snore" and as a "low pitched The key presented herewith is de­ Legs of moderate length, tibia gratmg croak". It is said to last signed to [lermit ready identifica­ less than half body length. Skin about half a minute, and to be tion oC the metamorphosed frogs repeated at five minute intervals. and toatls found In Iowa. Two al­ .:>f back and sides roughened with ternatl\ e sets ot characters are many small tubercles and a few rhey probably sing most in April and early May. given untler each numbered item. short ndges. Upperparts green­ Beginning with Item 1, select the ish-brown, often with some in­ !owA RANGE. - Found only tn set of characters (a or b) which dlstmct dark spots; sides of head LEOPARD FROG (0 6x) the eastern fifth of the state; properly describes the animal in bnght green; undersurface white external, located between tym­ hand, and proceed to the number known from Allamakee, Buchan­ lnd1cated at the right. This process panum and arm. an, Clayton, Delaware, and Is continued until the name of the SoNG. - A low, growling note LoUisa counties. Common near species Is reached. It is advisable ~"n ntinued for several seconds, springs and cool streams. (See that both alternatives be consid­ alternating with a series of short map.) ered before proceeding to the next chuckles; either the longer note number In the key. or the chuckles may predominate, so the choruses vary consider­ ; -- I ably. The chorus can often be described as a gutteral laughter. Uttered at the surface or sub­ merged, but in no case 1s the song loud or of great carrying quality. Heard from March until August; the strongest choruses usually oc­ cur in April and May. IOWA RANGE.- The most abun­ dant of the larger frogs; it oc­ curs throughout the state. Com­ mon near permanent water, about ponds, and in marshes and low pastures.

GREEN FROG (0.6x) or weakly mottled with dark; males with the throat bright yel­ low. The vocal pouches are in­ ternal. SONG. - A single-noted, low­ NORTHERN CRAYFISH FROG (Natural size) pitched, explosive "c'tung" or eJIAijiAl CM:ST 1 "clung", occasionally r epeated Rana areolata circulosa Rice and Davis 805$ PAAOTOID GlAJID ' I 0011$0-LATOIAL FOLD several times m succession. The I TDENTIFICATION. - A 1 a r g e note has been compared to that frog, reaching four and one-half produced by plucking the strings inches in length. Dorso-lateral of a bass viol. Heard from late folds extending almost or quite May through July. to groin. Longest toe with three ·HEEL lowA RANGE. - Most common phalanges free from the webbing, in the northeastern and east cen­ which is less well developed than tral portions of the state west to m Iowa's other typical frogs. the Cedar River basin; also found Body rather robust, the head I in the lower Iowa and lower Des broad; legs of moderate length, WEI Moines river valleys. It lives in PICKEREL FROG (0 Bx) tibia less than half body length. Diagrammatic outline illustrating certain and near permanent ponds and Rana palustris Le Conte Skin of back and, especially, external features of frogs and toads u~ed in streams. IDENTIFICATION. - Body length sides coarsely roughened with the key. inch~s o~ rid~s KEY FOR TilE IDENTIFICATION LEOPARD FROG three and one-fourth and large tubercles. Up­ OF I OWA FROGS AND TOADS !ess. Dorso-lateral .foldil -· f:)ryarts with many light-mar­ 1 a. Parotold glands present. Skin Rana pipiens Schreber mg almost or. qu1te (0' grom. gmed, more or less circular spots; with many enlarged warts. IDENTIFICATION. - Body length Longest toe Wlth two phalanges the ground color between spots (Continued to Page 30, Column 1) PAGE TH IRTY IOWA CONSERVATIONIST

yond e:re. tibia less than half - Frogs and T cads body length. ll111d feet less well-\vebbeu, at least one ..... 5 der, s carcely webbed three and one-half to four ph'alanges 2 a . lllotches on back large, con. ol longest toe free. l•'onn Echoes from the ~q11cuously . light margined, each 1ncludmg :seven or more :slender. Great Outdoor$ \\ urt:s. Paroto1d glands smull­ STRIP ED CHORUS FROG tll', their le'ltg ~ h less than dis­ h Back various ly marked. but tn.nc t: between them. Ridges \Vtthout clear-cut dark stt'l)tes. " Allah does rt oi deduct between e} .es converging fot·­ Too dt:sk::; ''ell develot,ed evi­ th~ allctttd of ""ar,d to form a vronunent dently wider tha n rest oi toe. from ttmq. !Joss or knob. Toes :shorter and thicker, well mart thou hours spqni tn GREAT PLAINS TOAD webbed, two ot· three pha­ l~uge:s of longest toe free. { LSh in9" b . Blotc hes on back small, with­ 1· onn robu::;t...... • II . out light margins, each m­ l> a . ::;lze smaller; body length of ' olving from one to five warts. adults ::;eve n-e ight::; to o ne and l'arotoid gland::; larger, their three-eights inche::;. L'olot By FRANK POWERS a boy who wan ted to become a length usually at least as tan or brown, u,;un.lly "1th ,tn great as dnst;.,nce between oulique cross ot d;u·ke1· bt·o.wn Cedar Rap ds Gazette duck hunter, "I don't know of a them. R i dge::~ between eyes IHll'allel or moderately con­ on !Jack; no white ::;pot below I became a columnist more by worse thmg he could take up as vergmg, but not uniting to e~ t:; no onwge on thighs. a hobby, but I don't know where Cot m a knob...... 3. Flllgers free. accident than intent, and realize SPRING PEEPER he could ever meet a finer bunch 3 a . Brea:st and belly more ot· lc~;:s full well that I am still in the heavily mottled or marbled h . S1ze larget·; body length oC kmdergarten and an amateur as of men and ge t so much per ­ w_tth dark. Parotoid g lands adults one and one-fourth to sonal satisfaction ' I never pass k 1dne:~- -shaped[ their width l\\ o and two- 11fths inches. fat as journalistic accomplish­ Color variable, u::;ually gt•a:t up a chance to hunt pheasants lt!SS than to i ttle more than ments arc concerned. I don t ' distance IJetween the glands. ot· green with an inegular squurels, rabbit. s, quail or any- pa llern of d a rk on back; a lhink it IS too difficult f01 any­ AMERICAN TOAD thmg tha t IS legal game at the large white ot· greenish-'' 111te one who loves thl. out-of-doors b Underparts without dark, or spot below and slightly be­ tune wllh one or a few dark spots hunl eye; thighs with much and th~ thmgs that go with it to on breast. Parotoid glands htlg ht yello" -orange in life. In the past several years I have Fingers about one - third write an outdoor column In fact longer and narrower u::;uall> • • been introduced to crow shoot­ about twice a::; long ' as w ide \\ t:ulJed. you JUSt can't help wntmg and and their width usually 2;5 COMMON TREE FROG ing as a pastime and conserva­ to 2/ 3 the distance betwben ~alking about the thmgs you are tion "good deed", and must say glands...... 4. 9 a . :-:o dorso- la t e t·al ::; kin fold on uody. Longe::; t toe of hlncl mtercsted m and the things you that as a sport it ranks second to 4 a . Southeastern lo\\ a. Size small­ foot \Vith only ou e phaluux love to do. I have come to the et·, body length le::;s than thret: free from '' eb. none. I strongly advocate that inches. Dorsal dark spot::; in­ BULLFROG conclusion that that is what all hunters get mterested in It as volvmg three or four (occa­ makes a fisherman stram the SIOnally two or five, rar ely b. lJo•·:so-la teral skin fold tJres­ a between season way to keep ent. Longest toe wit h one truth a wee bit when he tells one or more than five) wart::;. and one-half to three pha- their eyes in focus and keep the FOWLERS TOAD langes free 1rorn web ...... 10. about the one that got away, and feel of the old fowling piece. b . ·western two t1ers of I owa a . Donso-laternl fold extend mg makes the hunter come m with 10 My fishing IS JUSt as rmportant <.:ountles. Size larger, body only about t\\ o -th1rds to three­ those wlld tales of the millions length often t hree inche::; ot· four ths dis t a n ce from e :~- e to LO me as my hunting, and when­ more. Dorsal dar k spots in­ groin. Dark spots on buc k, if of ducks or pheasants he saw eve! I am asked which I like the volvmg one or two (occa:slon­ present, s rn a I 1 e r and not Sor t of an intoxication that fol­ ally t hree, rat·ely fou r o r live) sharply outlined. best I have to say, "Huntmg m war ts. GREEN FROG lows a day spent out m the open the fall and winter, and fishing ROCKY MOUNTAIN TOAD b . Dorso-lateral fold extending with Mother Nature m the sprmg and summer." I'm 5 a. t.:ndersurface coarsely granu ­ to or almo::~t to groin. l>Hrk I began thts career as an out­ lar. Stze small, body length ::;pots on back t very rarely ab­ certainly glad they don't come at not e_xceeding two and one­ s c n t) sharpl)· set off !rom door columnist several years ago the same time. Bad enough to half mches. Tips of fingers ground color...... 11 as a co-author of F orest, F ield an<.l toes more or less expand­ have the fa ll fishm' and squirrel 11 a Light spaces between u lack and S tream, and after the late ed or dilated. T r ee frogs .. . 6. spots on back and sides heav- huntm' overlap as they do. I b Under surface smoot h Size ily mottled or r e ticulated with Chuck Kosek had laid down h is don't turn my nose up at any kind lat ge, bo<.l:~-· length usually darker. Snout and upper ja.w pen and gone to the Happy H unt­ ~realer than two and o ne-half inegularly mottled and spot­ of fishing unless It's carpin'. That IJJ mches. Tips of fingers a n d ted, without WQll defined dark mg Grounds of Gitchie Mamtou, I don t have much time for. Bass toes not <.ltlnted. Typical or light stripes. Back and the r otund and jovtal Ta1 t Cum­ b f rogs ...... 9. sides roughened with many and trout are probably my f1rst t 6 a. Legs longer, when hmd leg Is r idges and tubercles. Tibia roms, sports editor of the Cedar les::; than half body l ength. choices. What can furnish a big­ bent ,forward heel ext ends ap­ Rapids Gazette, ind uced me to ger thrill than a good smallmou th proximately to end of snou t· NORTHERN CRAYFISH FROG take over the column. There you t ib ia (heel to knee) much b . Light spaces between black or t rout on a fly rod with about g 1:eater than half body length. SJIOts on bac k and sides rather have the story of how and why I a seven and one-half foot leader Ilmd feet well-webbed, short­ uniformly co lot ed. A clear­ am in 1t, and from here on out I I est t oe ent irely included In cut light stripe on upper jaw tapered to about 2x? As the web. Rear of thigh marked from snout to above fot·eleg refuse to be held to blame for younger generation say, "Out of Ill with alternating dark a n d Back and siUes rather smooth, anythmg. n ltght lengthwise stripes. with fewer ridges and tu­ this world, Mister, out of this NORTHERN CRICKET FROG bercles. Tibia more than half My hobbies arc hunting and wor ld" Along with my fishing lht b . Legs shorter, when b e nt for­ body length...... 12. fishing. I never did and never I do some artificial fly tying for 0 ward heel does not extend be- 12 a . Dark spots on bac k moru rec- will get enough of either of them. my personal use only, and that As to hunting I would say that along with the rod repairing and too 1 ~ ...... ,..._ . duck h unting comes firs;t with the ~ ~- ,, . 0 0 0 ...... -...... "1' such furnishes something to keep ) me. Why a man will sit out in a n •• the old temperature down during