| | 17 | 22 | 14-20 | | 8 | 15 | 18-22 -----------+------------------------+---------+---------+------------ Published data (Table 8) indicate that the average number of eggs per clutch for the three American species is about 20, although the number of eggs may exceed 30 in _spinifer_ and _muticus_. Except for those of _ferox_, most of these records are based on observations in northern latitudes (approximately 40°). My examination of females from southern latitudes (below 36.5°) reveals no oviducal egg count greater than 17 and an average number of eggs per clutch of 9.6 per _spinifer_ (Table 9); that of _muticus_ is 7.3, as based on data given in Table 9 as well as on egg-nest counts of 15, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5, 9, 8, and 8. Ovarian follicles larger than 15 millimeters in diameter are arbitrarily considered to comprise the next clutch that will be deposited in the current season. Follicles of this size possibly are retained until the following year or some may undergo regression; some of the included follicles may not be representative of the succeeding egg complement. The average number of follicles of the most enlarged groups is 9.0 for _spinifer_ and 10.5 for _muticus_. Females in northern latitudes probably have a greater reproductive potential than those in southern latitudes if it is assumed that there is only one laying per season for an individual; the maximum number of eggs laid at any one time probably does not exceed 35. There is also an indication that larger females deposit more eggs than smaller females (Table 9). Muller (1921:184) mentioned two double eggs (each having two yolks) in the complement of 33, indicating an abnormally large number and excessive crowding of eggs in the oviducts. Simkins (1925:188) also mentioned some eggs of a clutch (form and locality unknown) that were five or six millimeters larger (about 31-32 mm.) than the rest, and which "invariably bore twins." The largest number of eggs in a single nest mentioned by Simkins is 22. If the presence of double-yolked eggs is indicative of crowding of eggs in the oviducts, the egg complements of 22 and 33 indicate the approximate maximal number of eggs per clutch. In the species _spinifer_, the average size of sexually mature females is slightly smaller at some places in the south than in the north. Therefore, smaller clutches are to be expected in the south.