THE DESERT HORNED LIZARD 279 



escape by burying himself in the soil, but his 

 chances for escape are exceedingly slim. 



The tradition found among the Indians to the 

 effect that a horned lizard is able to burrow its 

 way out of a rattlesnake's stomach seems to 

 have some foundation in fact. "Rattlesnakes 

 have been found," writes Dr. Bryant, "with the 

 head of a horned lizard protruding through the 

 body wall. Rattlesnakes have also been found 

 with the horns of a Phrynosoma caught in the 

 throat." 



Several young are borne at a time, each a 

 minute edition of its parents. They all have 

 their trial at life, but because of the many ene- 

 mies a great number never reach the adult state. 

 As soon as the spring well opens up, they are 

 very much in evidence in almost every wash or 

 dune area. When first borne they are so tiny 

 that it would seem that they were utterly in- 

 capable of taking care of themselves, but the 

 great number of adults to be seen at any time 

 is evidence enough that they are very well 

 able to provide themselves with both food and 

 shelter. 



Horned toads in moulting shed, not the entire 



