The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1890-11-13
HORNED TOADS AS PETS.
THE REPULSIvE REPTILES ARE VERY
POPULAR IN THE WEST.

THE REPULslvE REPTILES ARE VERY
| POPULAR IN THE WEST.
They Can be Tanned and AFFORD Much
Amusement-They Are Real interest
ing Observation-Disclosures by Dealer
Who Sells Many Of Them Annually.
"Of all the curious objects for pets,"
said the curio man. 81 think that the
horned toad will take the palm"
Are they popular as domestic ami
malsT asked the one to whom this re-
mark was offered.
81 guess you'd think 80 if you knew
how many we sell in the course Of the
year, to say nothing Of all those that are
caught on tho spot and carried home in
triumph by those who fancy such
things"
"Who does?" asked the reporter.
We'll, children are very fond Of them.
They seem to think that it's no end of
fun to see them run around, eat flies,
and burrow themselves deep In the
anil"
How are they treated when in cap
tsvity?"
Pretty much as we treat them, I
suppose. You can see for yourself" said
the curio man, leading the way to one
side Of his crowded store, where in a
great, round, deep glass tank were half
dozen or more Of the funny little fell
lows sprawled out upon their sandy do
main. One seemed asleep, the others
were moving with more or less degree Of
animation.
One was trying to mount an elevation
furnished by the back of comrade,
and having attained that height the
rogue balanced himself upon his hind
legs and tried to climb up the CLASSY
sides of the tank. But in this he was
not successful, and after slipping back
most discouraging number Of times he
gave it up as bad job. Two others
seemed to be assuming belligerent at
| titude, to which the owner ut once called
the attention Of his visitor.
THEY ARE QUEER PETS.
do you see that9" said he. "Some Of
those fellows are the greatest fighters
imaginable. They take dislike to each
other. and never rest until they have
fought it out to the death. The old one
there is especially vicious.
"These horned toads are to be found
IN sandy wastes. have heard of their
being caught out at the Mission, but of
that can't speak positively. These here
came from Arizona, although we have
received them from much nearer home.
AT Redlands the boys catch ever so
many, and the Chinese eat them. They
Just skin off that coat Of mail and eat
the inside. Besides, they highly prize
the oil, which is contained in little
pouch somewhere within the anatomy
of horned toad.
The toads are shipped to us by ex-
press in boxes, sometimes as many as
twenty or more in the same box, and by
the time they are released from their
confinement they are all wound togeth-
er, until they look like writing, ami
mated mass of wriggling legs and
squirming tails.
"As soon as they seem to consider it
safe thing to do they unlock their travel
ing grip and begin to look about. Then
sell them. They bring from four to
six bits. How long do they liver Oh,
don't know. have known them to
live three or six months in perfect
health, and with every prospect Of con-
| tinuing in that state, when they were
brought to an untimely end by being
stepped on. If there is one thing above
another that u horned toad cannot stand
it's being stepped on. It seems to fatten
him out, as it WERE"
Aren't you becoming very facetious?"
asked the reporter.
| Mot at all; that is the usual fate of
pet horned toad. You see, they are
great travellers and like to keep running
about. Nearly everybody who has a
horned toad thinks 1t Is SO cute to see
him try to climb up out Of his box, and
the first thing you know he has sue
ceeded in getting out Of his box and is
running about on his own hook"
HOW TO KEEP THEM.
"Can they be tanned? Do they seem to
know one human being above anotherT'
were the next questions.
"Those who buy them maintain that
they do. Why, ] sold one to lady who
lived at tho Palace hotel, and she al
lowed him the freedom of her apartments
when she went out, and she told me that
on her return he would run to meet her,
no matter where he had hidden himself.
He was finally stepped on. Another,
/ Gear old lady. said that her grandchil-
dren made fun Of her, and declared she
thought the horned toad scratched his
toes on the floor in response to her CHR
rup, but she said he really did not go
quite so far as that, although he was
very knowing.
"What do they live on? Oh, on flies
and insects. Ihave known them, though,
to go for a month without eating any
thing. There is this that must be re-
membered if you wish to keep your toad
alive-give him plenty of sun. The best
house for him is fish globe filed with
deep bed Of nice clean sand. Set this
In the sun, and throw In some live flies
now and then, and Mr.. Toad will thrive.
If he wants the flies he'll catch then
and devour them quicker than wink
If he doesn't do so you may know it's be-
cause he's not hungry.
And | must not forget either to tell
you that while they are perfectly harm
less they get themselves into towering
RACES. 1t makes them mad to be tickled
under the chin. They like to be smoothly
strolSed down the back. If you poke
him OIL the side he will bend way down
as if in response to your touch. San
Francisco Cali.
Meetings Of members were held every
Saturday between November and June.
All the members had to wear a sort Of
uniform, namely, blue coat and buff
waistcoat. with brass buttons bearing a
4 gridiron and the words "Beef and Lib
erty," and also ring having the same
device. Each could introduce one guest,
except on particular days, when ac-
counts were looked up, the merits of
candidates discussed and other business
matters gone into.
One side Of the room was occupied by
an enormous gridiron, through which
one could see cook in white cap and
blouse standing by fire in readiness
for action. The steaks were served on
hot pewter plates, together with Spanish
onions, eschalots and baked potatoes,