10 ON THE “GILA MONSTER.” 
the other on which the glands are so well developed. On 
both upper and lower jaws each tooth has a lateral groove 
on each side ; these furrows are supposed to be for the pur- 
pose of inserting the venom in the wounds made by the 
teeth. Unless there are, not yet discovered, means of sup- 
plying venom to the upper teeth, it is difficult to see how 
their furrows are made available, if not by means of a 
quantity set free in the mouth, from the lower jaws, be- 
fore the attempt to bite, a process of such uncertain effi- 
cacy as hardly to be considered probable. 
Averse to torturing the creature, no attempt was made 
to verify the statement made by Sumichrast concerning 
the habit of turning on the back to defend itself when 
struck or beaten with a club. However, it might be ex- 
pected to do just what is asserted of it under such cireum- 
stances, for the position would be that which would enable 
it most effectively to use feet and claws in aid of the teeth 
in self-defence. 
The breath is no more colored than that of human be- 
ings ; neither is it nor could it be any more offensive in its 
odor than the incense wafted from the lips of multitudes 
of the representatives of proud humanity. In regard to 
the breath being venom-laden, that of the specimen be- 
fore us certainly was not so; here again it would be no 
very difficult undertaking to select an army of men with 
whom a comparison in this respect would’ undoubtedly 
prove complimentary to the “ monster.” 
And, finally, it may be said that unprejudiced consider- 
ation of the matter as it stands between the reptile and hig 
detractors will not fail to convince any one that a great 
deal of the disrepute with which so much of the testimony 
is weighted should not by any means be attached to the 
lizard. 
