The Hermit Spadefoot 



cover of the darkness of night. Toads are lovers of the dusk; 

 the Spadefoot is wholly nocturnal in habit, a fact which might 

 be inferred from the cat-like vertical pupil of the eyes. 



There is one time when the Spadefoot Toads make them- 

 selves conspicuous. This is when they come out of their bur- 

 rows, hundreds strong, and go to the ponds or temporary pools 

 for the purpose of depositing the eggs. This time is usually in 

 the spring, 1 and is always coincident with a very heavy rain- 

 storm or with a long-continued, warm drizzling rain. They are 

 likely to remain in the pond only one night, or two at most, but 

 during this time keep up a continual chorus of loud calls that can 

 be heard at a great distance. The Spadefoot Toads swim and float 

 awkwardly, sit on projecting stones and tufts of grass, and in fact 

 turn the dead and shallow temporary pool of the meadow into 

 a scene of great activity. The females make a low, grunting 

 sound; the loud calls are given by the males only. Each call 

 is relatively short, and is somewhat louder than that of the com- 

 mon toad. Its carrying power is greatly enhanced by a throat- 

 sac which acts as a resonator. This sac swells to three times the 

 size of the creature's head. The call is often started while the 

 Spadefoot is floating with his body horizontal and his legs 

 outstretched. Increase of air in the throat region changes the 

 centre of gravity so that the body is thrown forcibly and instan- 

 taneously into a vertical position in the water. 



The chorus is somewhat unusual in quality, and when it is 

 heard at night it takes on an extra note of weirdness from the 

 surroundings. An idea of its effectiveness can be gained by read- 

 ing the accounts of it given by various observers. Now it is de- 

 scribed as "a loud bellowing," again it is said to consist of "weird 

 plaintive cries," or of "shrill ear-piercing groans." One writer 

 calls it "a deafening, agonizing roar, hoarse and woeful." 



After the eggs are laid, the Spadefoot Toads disappear entirely, 

 leaving no trace of their hiding-places. In fact, it is not known 

 whether they burrow in the neighbourhood of low land where 

 temporary pools are likely to form, or whether they go a con- 

 siderable distance into higher land before they burrow. At any 



1 F. S. Smith, April 29, 1879. New Haven, Conn. 



C. C. Abbot, May, 1874. April 10, 1884. June 26, 1884. Trenton, N. J. 

 C. W. Hargitt, August 10, 1887. Martha's Vineyard. 

 C. S. Brimley, May, 1895. Raleigh, N. C. 



55 



