The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 64, July 1960 - April, 1961 Page: 165

Book Reviews

been more or less adequately examined, and the usual book and
periodical sources turned to excellent account, but certain minor
items seem to have been missed; one example is "Sketches of the
Campaign of 1864" by Colonel T. R. Bonner, 18th Texas Infantry,
in The Land We Love, October-November, 1868. Like most of
the rest of us, Professor Johnson leaves his maps undocumented
even when they contain valuable matter not derived from the
text. On occasion his quotations are imprecise and his use of
ellipses objectionably free. He seldom stumbles on points of
fact, but to call the Atchafalaya a bayou, or convert Bayou Teche
into Teche Bayou, or suppose that Texas cavalry of 1864 came
from the plains, bespeaks a certain unfamiliarity with the region.
Red River Campaign was, one presumes, written in partial ful-
fillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philos-
ophy. If so, it demonstrates again the folly of using the word
dissertation as an automatic epithet. This one is a highly satis-
factory book. BARNES F. LATHROP
The University of Texas
And Horns on the Toads. Edited by Mody C. Boatright, Wilson
M. Hudson, Allen Maxwell. Dallas (Southern Methodist
University Press), Texas Folklore Society Publications, No.
XXIX, 1959. Pp. 237. $4.50.
The harmless little animal of the lizard family once again lends
its horns, and this time for the title of a folklore book. Being
neither toad nor frog, the title at once suggests that within the
book may be found many other bits of lore and legend that have
almost been accepted for truths. John Q. Anderson has definitely
established as a fact that the "horned toad" can spit blood from
his eyes if properly evoked. S. Omar Barker's humorous poem on
the little creature is aptly included.
The "Seer of Corsicana" by William A. Owens, like the "Curan-
deros of South Texas" by Brownie McNeil, has elements of truth,
which have been looked upon as a legend or lore, and it is per-
haps more effective in both instances when they work in har-
mony like the mysterious rhythms of the mesquite trees. In most
instances the powers of the seers and curanderos descended by
oral tradition, and are made possible by faith.

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