Allen.] 186 [December 2. 



drawn up they were quite motionless, and apparently almost lifeless; 

 after a few seconds, however, their toes and legs began to twitch, and 

 their eyes slowly to open and close; in three or four minutes they had 

 become sufficiently animated to hop when disturbed, and in five or 

 six minutes would quicken their pace considerably when a stick 

 was pushed after them, even in the case of individuals brought up 

 from a depth of two feet below the surface of the mud. If undis- 

 turbed they were not disposed to move for a considerable time. In 

 all probability those found deejiest in the mud had been there at least 

 from ten to fifteen years, and probably much longer. The well usually 

 becomes very low in summer, and in very dry seasons dries up, and 

 remains so for several weeks. From the low temperature of the 

 bottom of the well, which varies from 45° to 48° F., toads falling 

 in at this time would naturally feel an inclination to hibernate, and 

 would accordingly bury themselves in the mud. The Avater subse- 

 quently filling the well would not affect them materially, the condi- 

 tions being similar to those natural to them when they repair to ponds 

 to hibernate; and the temperature being constantly below that at 

 which the toad is voluntarily active, there seems to be no reason why 

 this torpid condition, or involuntary hibernation, might not be thus 

 indefinitely protracted. 



2. Scaphiopus Holbrookii Baird. (S. soUtarius Holbr.) 

 Spade-footed Toad. Apparently common, but, as at other localities, 

 irregularly observed. 



On hearing the very peculiar notes of tliis species six years since, at 

 the well-known locality near the Botanic Garden in Cambridge, I 

 I'ecognized it at once as being something I had heard occasionally at 

 Springfield. It was not, however, till May 27th, 1866, that I hap- 

 pened to be fortunate enough to obtain specimens; I found two in a 

 path, after heavy rain, several hundred yards from any iiermanent 

 pool; and, during the day, several pairs spawning in different small 

 transient pools, though at this time they appeared sparingly. I also 

 heard them in Chickopee the following day, five or six miles distant 

 from the first locality. 



In 1863, after unusually heavy rains towards the close of June, they 

 came out in immense numbers, the transient pools formed by the 

 heavy fall of rain seeming to be full of them; but they were heard 

 only from 1 P. M. till about 3 A. M., of the following night; and 

 being confined to the house by illness I failed at this time to obtain 



