The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-10-24
HORNED T0ADS AS PETS.
THE RePuLslve REPTILES ARE VERY
POPULAR IN THE WEST.

POPULAR IN THE WEST.
They Can he Tanned and AFFORD Much
Amusement-rhey. Are Real Interest,"
ing Creatures Remarks by a Dealer
I 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
pualsY" asked the one TO whom this re-
mark was offered
81 guess you'd think so If you knew
how many we sell in The course of the
year, to say nothing of all those that are
eaught on the spot and carried home In
triumph by those who fancy such
things."
"Who does9' asked the reporter.
swell, 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
sand"
'sHow are they treated when in cap
tivityT'
"Pretty much as we treat them, ]
suppose. You can see for yourself, said
the curio man, leading the way to one
ode of his crowded store, where in o
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
sdes of the tank. But In this he was
not successful. and after slipping back a
most discouraging number Of times he
gave it up as a bad job. Two others
seemed to bo assuming belligerent at
titude, to which the owner at once called
the attention Of his visitor.
THEY ARE QUEER PETS.
"Do YOU see that2 said he. "Some Of
those fellows are the greatest fighters
imaginable They take a dislike to each
other, and never rest until they have
fought 1t out to the death. The old one
there is especially vicious
'dThese horned toads are to be found
In sandy wastes. have heard of theil
being caught out at the Mission, but o.
that can't speak positively. These herr
came from Arizona, although we hav'
received them from much nearer home.
cat Redlands the boys catch ever 81
many, and the Chinese eat them. The,
fust skin off that coat of mail and ca
the inside. Besides, they highly priz
the oil, which is contained In ittl
pouch somewhere within the anatom,
Of horned toad.
''The toads are shipped to us by eS
press in boxes, sometimes as many a
twenty or more in the same box, and b
the time they are released from thei
confinement they are all wound togetf
er, until they look like writhing, an
mated mass of wriggling legs an
squirrning tails.
GAS soon as they seem to consider it
safe thing to do they unlock their trave
ing grip and begin to look about. The
I sell them. They bring from four
ok bits. How long do they livep Ol
! don't know. I have known them
live three or six months In perfe'
health, and with every prospect Of CO..
tinuing In that state, when they we
brought TO an untimely end by beiI
stepped on. If there Is one thing abo'
another that horned toad cannot star
It's being stepped on. 1t seems to fatts
him out, as it WERE"
aren't you becoming very facetious
asked the reporter.
"Not at all; that Is the usual fate OF
pet horned toad. You see, they a
areat travellers and like to keep runnil
about. Nearly everybody who has
horned toad thinks 1t is SO cute to 6
him try to climb up out of his box, a
the first thing you know he has 81
ceeded In getting out Of his box and
running about on his own hook"
HOW TO KEEP THEM.
"Can they be tamedf Do they seem
know one human being above anothe
were the next questions.
''Those who buy them maintain Il
they do. Why, sold one to lady W
hved at the Palace hotel, and she
lowed him the freedom Of her apartmel
when she went out, and she told me ii
on her return he would run to meet h
no matter where he had hidden himst
BE was finally stepped on. Another
dear old lady, said that her grandcl
dren made fun of her, and declared
thought the horned toad scratched
toes ON the floor In response to her cl
rup, but she said he really did not
rY,{fa on FOR % that a1thnuuh ha Z