Among all living animals, toads were the most popular of all familiars. They were said to be the preferred animal shape of Satan and his demons.

They were also used to prepare magic potions and are present in most of the witch rituals including sabbats.

Toads were also believed to have a precious stone in their heads. This stone was considered both a talisman for obtaining  happiness and a means to detect poison. If the stone became hot, poison was nearby.

The breath of a toad was believed to infect a person wherever it touched. Another common superstition existed stating those whom a toad regarded fixedly would be sized by spasms, palpitations, swoons, and convulsions.

Toads as demons

Sometimes the devil would appear to witches as a toad. In these instances, witches would kiss the toad's mouth in an act of homage.  A toad was recognizable as a demon if he carried two tiny horns borne on his forehead.

Many witches baptized their toads, dressed them in black velvet, put little bells on their paws, and made them dance.

"Jeannette d'Abadie, a witch of the Basses-Pyrénées...declared that she saw brought to the Sabbat a number of toads dressed some in black, some in scarlet velvet, with little bells attached to their coats.” 

“An accused Cathar, a woman named Bilia, "admitted to having a familiar toad to which she fed meat, bread, and cheese, and out of whose feces, together with human body hair, whe made a powder from which she confected the potions drunk at the synagogues".

Toads in potion