THE HORNED FROG. 65 



with clouds of drifting snow flying through the air, and the 

 hurricane's roar battling through the forest at our feet adding 

 to the wildness of the scene, which is unrelieved by the 

 slightest vestige of animal or human life. 



THE HORNED FROG. 







We must now pass in review some of the numerous animals 

 which inhabit these regions. In some of the mountain pla- 

 teaux, among the cactuses and sand-heaps, we find that singu- 

 larly-made animal known vulgarly as the Texan toad or 

 horned frog a name which in no way properly belongs to 

 him, as he is more nearly related to the lizards and sala- 

 manders. He lives as contentedly on the hot baked prairies of 

 Texas, as amongst their snow-surrounded heights ; though, from 

 his appearance, we should expect to see him basking under 

 a semi-tropical sun, rather than in this region. Yet here he 

 lives, and must often have to spend much of his time under 

 the snow. These toads, as the creatures are called, have 

 brown backs, white bellies, small twinkling black eyes, set in 

 almond-shaped slits, enclosed by two dark marks of the same 

 shape. This has the effect of enlarging the eye, and giving 

 it a soft look like that of the antelope. The two retro-curved 

 horns, which rise out of bony sockets above the eyes, add still 

 more to this odd resemblance. 



The skin of the back and the long stiff tail, instead of being 

 warted like the true toad's upper surface, is set with thorny 

 excrescences. That of the lower surface is a dry tough tissue, 

 almost horny. Whether this armour is given him to defend 

 himself from the rattlesnake, it is difficult to say. The crea- 

 ture itself is of a peaceable disposition ; and so unwilling is he 

 to fight, that he will allow himself to be taken in the hand, 



(397) 5 



