330 



ORDERS OF REPTILES— LIZARDS 



and soreness of the wound during two or three 

 days, he experienced no permanent ill effects 

 from it. It is quite certain that the bite of this 

 creature is seldom fatal to man, even if it ever is; 

 but it can cause the death of small and weak 

 creatures, like frogs and guinea-pigs. 



This reptile lives well in captivity, and half a 

 dozen of them in a desert cage make a very showy 

 exhibit. 



The Horned "Toad," 1 so dear to the heart of 

 every eastern traveller on his first visit to the 

 great Southwest, where deserts are plentiful and 

 cheap, is not a "toad" at all! Observe its long 

 tail, such as real toads. never have, then call it 

 forever after by its real name — Horned Lizard. 

 There is much excuse, however, for the universal 

 name; for, saving the presence of the tail, the 

 little living cactus is quite toad-like in its form. 



Professor Cope recognized eleven species of 

 Horned Lizards, any one of which, wherever 

 found, will serve as well as another to represent 

 this genus. They are all habitants of the deserts 

 and arid regions, where cacti, cat's-claw, and 

 other thorny things possess the land. They are 

 frequently seen in the roads and trails of the 

 Southwest, and are easily captured. If meal- 

 worms are abundant, they are easily kept in 



No! The Glass "Snake" 2 does not join itself 

 together again after it has once been broken in 

 two. And it is not by any means a snake! It 

 is a smooth-bodied, legless lizard, but so scaly, 



HORNED LIZARD. 



captivity, on dry sand, in warm sunshine. The 

 length of a large specimen is only 5^ to 6 inches; 

 and, strange as it may seem, these odd creatures 

 are related to the iguanas. 



1 Phry-no-so'ma cor-nu'tum. 



GLASS SNAKE 



and so snakelike in general appearance that any 

 stranger is quite excusable for calling it a snake. 

 As a matter of fact, the tail of this creature is so 

 feebly attached to the body that a very mod- 

 erate blow with a stick breaks the connection, 

 and the reptile lies in two pieces. If left until 

 doomsday, the severed parts will not reunite, 

 but the body does its utmost to repair the injury 

 by growing another tail. As a mater of fact, the 

 new growth of tail is but a short and very im- 

 perfect substitute. 



This creature inhabits the southern states 

 from the Carolinas westward to Texas, and north- 

 ward up the Mississippi valley to Kansas and Wis- 

 consin. It feeds chiefly upon insects, and being 

 quite without legs, it forms an excellent con- 

 necting link between the lizards and serpents. 

 There are quite a number of species of legless 

 lizards. 



2 O-phi-o-sau'rus ven-tral'is. 



