M. F. Sumichrast on the Habits of some Mexican Reptiles. 499 



I am led to this supposition (in which, moreover, I am supported 

 by what I have heard from the natives) by the fact that, during 

 the dry season, from November to June, this reptile is very rarely 

 met with, and it is only seen pretty frequently during the rainy 



The body of the Heloderma usually exhales a strong and nau- 

 seous odour, the intensity of which increases at the period when 

 the two sexes seek each other for the purpose of copulation. 

 When the animal is irritated, there escapes from its throat a 

 whitish glutinous fluid, secreted by very large salivary glands. 

 If it be struck during this angry movement, it finally throws it- 

 self upon its back, which has led the Indians to say, as a precept 

 to be followed under such circumstances, that the scorpion must 

 always be attacked in front, because it stings behind. This singular 

 manoeuvre, which the Heloderma repeats whenever it is menaced, 

 is accompanied by deep breathings and by an abundant secretion 

 of the glutinous saliva already mentioned. 



The natives consider the bite of the Heloderma to be exceed- 

 ingly dangerous, and dread it as much as that of the most 

 venomous serpents, such as the Tepoxo {Bothrops atrox) or the 

 Mazacoatl {Atropos mexicanus*). In support of this pretended 

 malignity, I have been told of a great number of cases in which 

 ill effects were produced by the bite of the animal, or by eating 

 its flesh in mistake for that of the Iguana. I wished to make 

 some conclusive experiments on this point ; but, unfortunately, 

 all the specimens of the Helo4erma which I could procure during 

 my stay in the countries inhabited by it were so much injured 

 that it was impossible to do so. Without giving the least credit 

 to the statements of the natives, I am not absolutely disinclined 

 to believe that the viscous saliva which flows from the mouth of 

 the animal in moments of excitement may be endowed with such 

 acridity that, when introduced into the system, it might occasion 

 inconveniences, the gravity of which, no doubt, has been exag- 

 gerated. 



The thickness of the integuments which protect the body of 

 the Heloderma, and the hardness of the scaly tubercles with 

 which they are covered, render it almost insensible to the hardest 

 blows; and its instant death is caused only by deep wounds pro- 

 duced by a cutting instrument or a gun-shot. The muscular 



* The Tepoxo, or Tepocho, is tolerably common in most of the subalpine 

 regions of Mexico ; the species is subject to a great number of variations. 

 The name Mazacoatl signifies Stag-snake (from Mazalt, stag, and Coatl, 

 serpent) : it has been given to this species on account of the scales turned 

 up in the form of small horns, which fringe the upper margin of the eye- 

 lids. This Ophidian, which is less common than the preceding one, in- 

 habits the warm and temperate as well as the colder regions. 



