376 EJECTION OF BLOOD BY HORNED TOADS—HAY. 
day with regard to the propriety of dashing the animal into the water 
again to discover, if possible, where the blood came from. It was 
thought, however, that such blood-lettings must be somewhat exhaust- 
ing, and that it would be better to allow the animal a day to recuperate. 
While talking I picked up the lizard and was holding it between my 
thumb and middle finger, and stroking its horns with my fore-finger. 
Allat once a quantity of blood was thrown out against my fingers, and a 
portion of it ran down on the animal’s neck; and this blood came di- 
rectly out of the right eye. It was shot backward and appeared to 
issue from the outer canthus. It was impossible to determine just how 
much there was of the blood, but it seemed that there must have been a 
quarter of a teaspoonful. I went. so far as to taste a small quantity of 
it, but all that I could detect was a slight musky flavor. 
All that I was able at that time to find in print concerning this 
strange habit of these animals is contained in Prof. S. F. Baird’s “An- 
nual Record of Science and Industry” for 1872, p. 256. It appears to 
be merely a clipping from a newspaper, and reads as follows: 
We published not long ago a notice of a peculiarity of the Horned Toad of Califor- 
nia in the expulsion of a blood-like fluid from the eye, and a reader of the Weekly 
writes to give his own testimony to the fact. He states that he has caught numbers 
of these in Texas, and frequenthy noticed the éjection of the bloody fluid from the 
inner canthus of the eye, once receiving the discharge in his own eye, while holding 
the animal at a distance of at least a foot. The sensation experienced was quite 
painful for a few minutes. 
Some very interesting questions arise regarding this strange habit. 
What is the purpose of the Horned Toad in thus besprinkling an enemy 
with its own blood? What is the source of the blood, and how is it 
expelled with such force? Is the habit practiced at all times of the year 
or only during certain conditions of the animal? I may state here that 
I was able to get the lizard to discharge blood only twice. Afterwards 
no amount of teasing sufticed to provoke it to a repetition of the act. 
This makes it appear probable that, as suggested by Mr. Stejneger, the 
habit is practiced only during the time of shedding the skin. 
As to the purpose of the habit, it appears to me quite likely that it 
is done in order to defend itself from the attacks of its enemies, al- 
though it would not seem likely that blood would hurt the eyes much, 
notwithstanding the statement of the newspaper correspondent re- 
ferred to above. Nevertheless, a discharge of blood into the eyes of 
some pursuing bird or snake might so seriously interfere with its clear- 
ness of vision that the lizard might make its escape while the enemy 
Was wiping its eyes. 
In order to determine, if possible, the source of the blood, an aleoholie 
Specimen of the same species was dissected, but the investigation was 
fruitless. It appears to me useless to expect to find anything of the 
nature of a gland. Glands secrete materials from the blood, not blood 
itself. The most probable theory regarding the matter seems to be 
that there is lodged in the head, on each side, a blood sinus, a portion 
