HORNED “TOADS” 
The horned “toads” common in the deserts of the central and southern 
United States hunt beetles and other insects during the hottest part of the 
day. Before nightfall they burrow into the sand by a series of odd con¬ 
tortions and remain buried for the night. These lizards have flat, broad 
bodies, resembling a toad’s, and are covered with spiny scales of varying 
size. Their colors — a sprinkled yellow, gray, black and brown — constitute 
an excellent desert camouflage. 
The horns, which give this reptile a rather menacing appearance, are 
bony spines protruding from the head and back, the longest being those on 
the head. Usually slow-moving, horned lizards run swiftly if they have to. 
They are harmless to man. 
Texas horned lizards are often caught by tourists as souvenirs of 
their trip. They usually die of improper food, cold, dampness or lack of 
sun. This species has two large spines on the center of the head and three 
on each temple. The Pacific horned lizard has a narrower body than the 
Texan variety, though its tail is thicker and longer. When angry it puff's 
up, its eyes bulge and squirt tiny jets of blood. The reddish color of this 
lizard is relieved by a brownish spot on each shoulder and three stripes 
of the same color on its back. 
When the crowned lizard of Lower California burrows into the sand 
for the night, its tallest spines often remain above the surface like peri¬ 
scopes. When it first emerges in the morning, the reptile is lethargic, but 
in the noonday heat it becomes very active in pursuing flies, ants, worms, 
caterpillars and moths. When chased, these creatures run swiftly for a few 
yards and then stop to nod their heads. In the winter they like to hibernate. 
If prevented from so doing, they will go on living through the cold weather, 
but when spring comes, they usually die. 
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