The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-24
'THE Ways OF ANIMALS.
The Freaks and the Intelli-
gence Of Birds.
A CnAMELE0N-LIKE FOOD.
An Army Of Rats that Suggested the
Calling Out Of the Militia.

o,..r Gathering OF Aninais On . Kaft on !.
Pennsylvania Rivera Lnko serpent
with . Finme.Iike Tongue shows ,t,
Head Through tho Ice n Maiue-Fight
OF . Biacksnako and Copperhead-Tho
Dragon Fiy's Transformation.
IT believe there arc moro curious things to
M seen among the Sierra Madro Mountains In
california than anywhere else In this country"
said A native OF Pasadena. Tho oldest
toads, most curious lizards, queerest snakes,
and m ost inexcusnble spiders live. move. and
have their being among the rocks and caflons
and groves Of the Sierrn Madres. to say moth
ine OF the strange wild beasts that roam that
yariod region. Many Of these are strange
amply because they are becoming 80 raro.
not 40 much because Of any popularity OF
structure or habit, although II It Is true. as
many mountainous solemnly aver II Is. that the
Biz horn or mountain sheep drops nom
cbslantly down from sheer precipices hun
dreds Of feet and alghts safely on his horns.
suffering neither from shock nor abrasion. that
Is popularity enough. both in structure and
habit. to satisfy any one looking for strange
things Any one who can stand the toll and
exertion OF climbing up among and along tho
rocky peaks OF the Sierra Madres won't havo to
70 more than days tramp to run across the
rare big horn yet. and black-tai deer a. plenty.
and mountain lions. and grizzly bear 1t in
not 30 long ago that couple Of friends Of
nine bagRed three big horns. grizzly bear.
two mountain lions. and fourteen black-tail
deer In four days-a big hunt for even dwellers
in the San Gabriel Valley.
"Ihave seen m ost OF the curious reptile life
Of tho Sierra Madres. but have searched long
- frOtt al for N yoh
friend Of mine. quite a wcll-known ANA
tsur naturalist. discovered ono day. which
was the most interesting reptile product. nc-
cordfng to his description OF It. yot discovered
In the region.
The. place where he discovered the toad.
g. saa Sa With h 81
rock to rock. he scared his eompanIon ALMOST
h Fl" ess the az" and ""'''
-. :" Ais compapion: thinking he wa, about to
amountain lion. felt him self turn male. but his
terror M. e. changed to disgust when he saw tnY
MT lostea iiEs ittie $a%9p The Sssla '
Vas about to give Hin In a piece u his mind.
when the latter assured him that the supposed
such re ee s e0 Of rs
sem 1lance IN nature that be believed 1t to DO
new spsclss .,, :. a., .u,.,
cause. Of ali this exeitsmont showed that. il
It could take on tne' resemblance Of other
Ssd that 81 the il then en- cnsns to-
its power Of protecting itself against discovery
by Toes was indeed wonderful. The rock was
q mottled gray. the spots being prominent in
With minute exactness.. ali over its back and
down to the ends OF it's toes
t!v., essmbIsscs ny friend touched l it. i
was Of q deep red color with streaks Of whitn
naterisl harder chan the body Of the eP rock.
raised slightly above the surface TN In Ti less
began to .fadc. like the dlssolving view Of
red Of the other rock and its tortuous white
minutes the toad was 50 exact a counterfeit OF
the rock It Was on that the white streaks were
nSt only reproduced hut had the appearance
IN tho tosd 1t was driven of the rock. and it
on en- y whte In sh time
snow. Several other tests as extrnordinar y as as
these were made, oil with the snme astound-
Inf result Ny end then With dim
photograph he happened to have in his pocket
II five ninutes the frogs back bore q copy. Of
The Photographt upon It as clear cut as II it
II my friend had been content with these
Interesting, experiments with the toad and
IN his he ToH!d have had
species to natural history; but he was not and
placed It on bunch OF green moss. with bright
e IL ReSrs the r 9ns
bushes. seized the inter esting reptile. and bore
II aEsy before the naturalist or his companion