The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-02-12
HORNED TOADS AS PETS,
THE REPUlSNE REPTILES ARE VERY
POPULAR IN THE WEST.

. POPULAR IN THE WEST.
They Can BE Tanned and Afford Much
Amusement-Thsy Are Real Interest
ing Creatures-Remarks by = Dealer
Who Sells Many OF Them Annually.
"Of all the curious objects for pets"
said the curio man. II think that the
horned toad win take tho palm"
Are they popular a. domestic ami
mals?' asked the ono to whom this re-
mark was offered.
II guess you'd think 80 If you knew
how nans we sell in tho course Of the
year, to say nothing Of al those that are
caught on the spot and carried home in
triumph by those who fancy such
things"
who does2" 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
sand"
How are they treated when in cap
tivityT
pretty much as we treat them. l
suppose. You can see for yourself" said
the curio man, leading the way to one
side Of his crowded store, where In .
great, round, deep glass tank were half
q dozen or more Of the funny little fell
lows sprawled out upon their sandy do
main. One seemed asleep, the others
were moving with moro 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 tho tank. But in this he was
not successful, and after clipping back a
most discouraging number Of times he
gave it up as bad job. Two others
seemed to DO assuming belligerent at
htude, to which the owner at once called
the attention Of his visitor.
THEY ARE QUEER PETS.
do you see that?" 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 ono
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 q 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 writhing, ami
mated mass of wriggling legs and
squirming tails.
Gas soon as they seem to consider it q
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. l 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. II there is one thing above
another that q horned toad cannot stand
it's being stepped on. It seems to aatter
him out, as it were"
Aren't you becoming very facetious7
asked the reporter.
| mot at all; that is tho usual fate Of g
pet horned toad. You see, they an
great travellers and like to keep running
about Nearly everybody who has ,
horned toad thinks it is 90 cute to se'
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 i
running about on his own hook"
HOW TO KEEP THEM.
"Can they be tamedl Do they seem Il
know one human being above another?
were the next questions.
"Those who buy them maintain tina
they do. Why, sold one to Lady VIII
lived at the Palace hotel, and she al
lowed him the freedom Of her apartment
when she went out, and she told me tha
on her return he would run to meet he1
no matter where he had hidden himself
He was finally stepped on. Another,
dear old lady, said that her grandchil
dren made fun Of her, and declared sh
thought the horned toad scratched hi
toes on the floor in response to her chil
rup, but she said he really did not g
quite SO far Us that. although he wa
very knowing.
What do they live on? Oh, on file
and insects. Ihave known them, though
to 60 for a month without eating ap1
thing. There is this that must b17A
membered if you wish to keep yoQkf/
alive-give him plenty Of sun. ~
house for him is fish globeE
deep bed of nice clean s9E
now and then, and Nj, TX
II he wants the fiefA
and devour them qth
If he doesn't do 50 ~
cause he's not hHffee
"And u9G 1
you thaesT- -dstg