The "Spade-footed Toad," which occurs throughout the whole of Central Europe, extends from Belgium and the middle of France to North-Western Persia, and from the southern end of Sweden to Northern Italy. It prefers sandy localities, in order to dig its deep hole, in which it sits concealed during the daytime. Owing to the looseness of the sand, the hole is filled up so that no trace of its inhabitant is left. The digging is done by means of the spades, and in suitable localities the animal soon vanishes, sinking backwards out of sight. Except in the breeding season, or at night, it is therefore found only accidentally. The sand-loving habits do not, however, prevent it from enjoying moist localities. Several which I have kept for years dig themselves into the wettest moss in preference to the drier parts of their habitation. Being thoroughly nocturnal, they hunt after nightfall, the food consisting of all sorts of insects and of worms. When captured they utter a startling shrill cry, and their skin becomes covered with a dermal secretion which smells like garlic, a peculiarity which has given them in Germany the name of "Knoblauchskröte," "garlic-toad." Although they become very tame, so that they no longer smell when handled, they can be made ill-tempered by being pinched or otherwise teased, whereupon they take up a defiant attitude, and with open mouth continue to cry for several minutes. Some such scenes occur now and then, without {163}my interference, with the specimens which share their abode with several species of _Amblystoma_ and _Spelerpes_; there are heard now and then sudden loud yells, like the squeak of a cat or the yapping of a little dog.