376 3. IGUANID.^ 



In California, it has been found only at the western 

 base of Mount Shasta, Siskiyou County. 



Habits. — Dr. Cooper stated that he "obtained numerous 

 specimens of this singular animal in the vicinity of the 

 Yakima river, in August, and saw them as far as latitude 48 

 degrees 30 minutes north, on the open plains, usually among 

 rocks and sand. They all had the gray color which they 

 retain in alcohol, excepting one, which was of a brick red on 

 the back, but beneath white like the rest. These colors 

 resemble those of the stones among which they live, and it 

 is supposed by some that they have the power of changing 

 their hue like the chameleon, and like the better known tree 

 toad of the Atlantic States. Though ferocious in appear- 

 ance they are perfectly harmless; yet the Indians believe 

 them to have the power of producing a poisonous wound 

 with their blunt spines, and it is possible that such a wound, 

 »/ made, might sometimes be troublesome. They do not 

 attempt to bite, and are so slow in motion as scarcely to get 

 out of the way. They are, no doubt, like the ugly but 

 useful toads, more useful than ornamental, as their food 

 consists chiefly of insects. As might be supposed from the 

 locality, the specimens found in Washington territory are 

 smaller than those of Oregon and Utah. I never saw or 

 heard of its occurrence west of the Cascade Mountains". 



Dr. Suckley adds: "One was caught in September near 

 the Snake River, Oregon Territory. At Christmas, although 

 having been shut up since its capture in an empty match box, 

 it was still quite lively. When irritated it would spring in 

 a most threatening manner at anything pointed at it, at the 

 same time opening its mouth widely, and audibly hissing, 

 after which it would inflate its body and show other evident 

 marks of anger. It died about February 1, probably from 



