SHORT STUDIES OF BATEACHIANS. 345 



whistle, or give tongue, as you choose to express it, only 

 in spring, and at the time when the females are deposit- 

 ing their ova. This, at least, is my impression. 



There are yet others of this family that have been 

 " collected " in the neighborhood ; but here my knowl- 

 edge ends. They were here, and now are in alcohol. 

 This seemed to satisfy those who were fortunate enough 

 to find them ; but of the value of such facts I have noth- 

 ing to say. 



The Intelligence of BatracJiians. 



In his recent volume on animal intelligence,* Mr. 

 Romanes devotes less than two pages to the intelligence 

 of batrachians. He remarks: "On the intelligence of 

 frogs and toads very little has to be said." That our 

 author should have included toads in the above seems 

 strange, as instances of cunning and proofs of the general 

 intelligence of these animals are numerous. In conver- 

 sation with practical observers of animal life, I have 

 never yet found one that did not accord a marked degree 

 of intelligence to toads. In short, they may readily be 

 tamed, will come when called, and have been seen to 

 place matter attractive to flies, their principal food, near 

 their hiding-places, so they could remain at home and 

 at the same time be sure of a sufficiency of food. This 

 evidence of foresight on the part of toads is no uncom- 

 mon occurrence, and quite effectually establishes their 

 claim to a creditable degree of intelligence. 



Of the spade-foot or hermit-toad (Scaphlopus solita- 

 rius) and the tree-toad (ITyla versicolor) I have but little 

 to record. The former is but rarely seen, and I have had 

 no opportunity to experiment with it with a view to test- 



* "Animal Intelligence." By George J. Ro:nanes. (Internat. Sc. Series, 

 No. xliv.) New York, D. Appleton & Co. 



