6 ON THE “GILA MONSTER.” 
“roughly striped black and white on a yellowish back- 
“oround. Its length varies from ten to thirty inches, and a 
“large-sized fellow is as thick as a strong man’s arm. 
“When prodded with a stick it hisses and thrusts out its 
“heavy forked tongue, raising its head menacingly, but 
“scarcely moving otherwise. Its bite is often fatal, the 
“effect depending more or less upon the state of the sau- 
“yian’s temper and the depth of the wound. Its breath in 
“hissing is offensive, and issues from a wide-open mouth 
“in puffs of black vapor or smoke. The Mexicans I have 
“ questioned all told me that it was exceedingly poisonous, 
“as much so as the bite, if not more, while many of the 
“Americans thought it harmless. Having myself seen a 
“chicken and a small puppy killed by the hissing of one 
“in their faces, I am inclined to think that it is best to 
“keep from coming in contact with it.” Comment on this 
is unnecessary. Still more conclusive in its way is the fol- 
lowing, originally from the Cochise Record, reprinted 
without comment in the Proceedings of the Zoological So- 
ciety of London, 1888: “Sunday evening Dr. Mathews 
“was summoned, by telegram, to Fairbanks (a railway- 
“station near Tombstone, Arizona Territory, U. S. A.), 
“to attend Colonel Yearger, who was reported seriously ill. 
“ Owing to delay inthe telegram, the doctor did not reach 
“the patient until several hours after his death, which had 
“been very sudden.” 
“Tt appears that Yearger had been fooling with a Gila 
“mouster and in attempting to open the creature’s mouth, 
“was bitten on the right thumb. Instantly the poison took 
“effect, and although every convenient remedy was ap- 
“plied, he lived but a few hours. An inquest was subse- 
“quently held, and a verdict returned in accordance with 
“ the above facts.” 
“As this is the third or fourth death which has occurred 
