The Press., 1885-06-11
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.

Pomona Cal, May 26, 1885.
 Pomona has had a course of lectures nn- der the auspices of the Y. M. O. A., and has employed the best talent in the coun- try. The fifth of the course was by Rev. M. F. Colburn pastor of the University church of Los Angeles, and son of the late M. F. Colbnrn of Stafford. His subject was the testimony of the rocks, and his theme was to prove by geological and as- tronomical science, the historical truth of the bible. The lecture was illustrated by diagrams of his own painting, and listened to by the audience with the closest atten- tion, and considered by all the best of the course. MT. Colburn has been a teacher of elocution and is very fascinating speaker, and Stafford people may well be proud that they have man of his calibre filling so responsible position and filling it SO well.
 But promised to write the little folks about tarantulas and horned toads. Ia rantulas belong to the spider family, and are very large and black, and have large stout legs covered with short thick hair I saw one preserved in alcohol at the house of Rev. Charles Sumner in Tuckson, the capital of Arizona, and I should judge his body was nearly three inches long. They are quite common here in California, but seldom grow to their full size among the settlements, as they are always killed at sight. Their bite is very poisonous, and many people never allow their children to go barefooted for fear of them, and then there are other children who go barefoot the year round, yet don't know person who has been bitten by one. If molested they will try to get away, and will bite only when they are cornered They live in the ground where they have rooms and doors to open and shut just like other peo- ple..
 The common toad, such as you have in Connecticut, are very plenty, and are out at all times of the year, but the horned toad goes into the ground in the fall and stays till spring, and they are as much of a curiosity as anything the newcomer sees. In shape they are more like turtle, but not quite as broad. Their heads and tails are almost an exact pattern of the turtle. They have no shell but yon would hardly want to take one up at sight, for they have sixteen horns on their heads, and row of hundred and twenty around their sides, which vary from an eighth to three eighths of an inch in length. They don't hop, but will run about as fast as a smart boy, yet they are perfectly harmless, and will al. ways run out Ol your Wdy. OCOTIDIOuS i've in wet land, and near ditches and water courses. Their body looks like 8 small frog, and is from two to three inches long. They have two arms, terminating with a pair of claws like lobster or crab, and eight slim legs. The tail is iointed and very slim, and is as long as his body The sting is in the end of the tail and Is very poisonous, and if you touch any par of him he will sting you. I saw mar who was stung by one on the hand and ht instantly drew his knife from his pocke and cut piece of flesh from the wound and ran to drug store for an antidote and by his prompt action saved wha might have been very serious matter But I am glad to say there are few of then here, have SC en only one in whole year
 Farmers here are digging potatoes jus at the time of year that you are planting them in Connecticut. Then we shal plant them again in August, and dig then ill November and December so we have new potatoes twice year. If this don go to fill the waste basket will write yol again about other animals that live in Gal ifOrnia. G. L. T.