336 
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-lilce 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 
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. 
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, 
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. 
