(^6 ON THE "GILA monster." 
"in the Territory from bites of this reptile, it should set 
"at rest, at once and forever, the theory so prevalent that 
"their bite is not poisonous." 
For comparison with the foregoing we may bring for- 
ward the evidence of a couple of witnesses of scientific 
reputation. They have no interest in destroying the char- 
acter of the accused and may l)e expected to give testimony 
without prejudice. If they are less positive in their as- 
sertions than the preceding, it is possibly due to their act- 
ual acquaintance with the creature. 
Dr. F. Sumichrast under date of 1880, in the Bulletin 
de la Societe Zoologique de France, page 178, remarks 
concerning Helodevina horridum: "J'ai pen de chose a 
" ajouter aux observations de moeurs que j'ai publiees sur 
"cette espece, il y a quelques annees, si ce n'est, qu'aprcs 
"de nouvelles experiences sur sa morsure, je suis arrive a 
" la conviction qu'elle occasionne rarement lamort chez les 
" animaux d'une certaino taille et que, la plupart du temps, 
" elle n'est suivie que d'une enflure de la paitie moidue qui 
"disparaitau bout de vingt-quatre lieures an plus ; c'est an 
" moins le seul effet qu'elle ait produit sur plusieurs jeunes 
" chiens que j'ai fait mordre dernierement." 
Dr. R. W. Shufeldtis one who, from having been incau- 
tious enough to get bitten, is entitled to speak with some 
degree of assurance. His statement is found in the Amer- 
ican Naturalist for 1882, page 908. He was bitten on the 
right thumb, the teeth going to the bone, by a specimen 
at the Smithsonian Institution. The lacerated wound was 
in a few moments the starting point of severe shooting- 
pains that passed up the arm and down the corres})onding 
side. A profuse perspiration was induced. The pain 
made him so faint as to fall. The hand swelled rapidly, 
but the swelling went no farther than the wrist. The 
treatment included suction which drew not a little blood 
