does the slow and clumsy Gila Monster. 

 They are not able to ascend high and 

 straight trees, which, however, are not 

 found in these regions, but they are able 

 to climb bushes and low trees, having 

 somewhat leaning trunks and rough bark. 

 And it is wonderful to see how cleverly it 

 disposes of the sharp claws and the mus- 

 cular, half-prehensile tail, both in drag- 

 ging itself up and in retarding an often 

 ioo rapid descent. 



The inquiry may be made : How is it 

 possible that a Heloderma lives on eggs 

 alone when it can find them only during 

 the relatively short time of five or six 

 :months? First, it may be remembered 

 that this period corresponds nearly to the 

 .active life of the animal before and after 

 estivation. The second and more im- 

 portant reason is its remarkable frugality. 

 The digestive organs are so constructed 

 that they adapt themselves to a fast of 



many months without injury to the ani- 

 mal. 



In captivity the Gila Monster begins to 

 slough about January and continues this 

 process during several months. The 

 epidermis comes oiY not like a snake's, in 

 a whole piece, but in several, or more fre- 

 quently in many, fragments. 



There is still a wide field open for ac- 

 curate observation and definite knowl- 

 edge that we relinquish to the profes- 

 sional naturalist and to those fortunate 

 ones who can study the animal in free- 

 dom. 



Amelia Walson. 



[Editor's Note: The Gila Monster of 

 the illustration is still living and has for 

 some years been the interesting pet of one 

 whose love of nature in all forms has 

 found beauty in the reptile usually 

 shunned alike by the savage and by civil- 

 ized man.] 



BIRD NOTES, 



I. 



Bit of sunshine taken wings, 

 Or a spray of golden-rod ? 

 On thistle top he sways and swings, 

 Or flung high to the sun, he sings — 

 Perdita— Perdita — Perdita — 

 'Dita, — Sweet, Sweet — . 



II. 



Good morning trolled, then all the day, 

 From thicket hidden bramble bush, 

 This recluse croons. his roundelay. 

 But startle him, — a flash of gray, 

 And, Hush — Hush — Hush — Hush — 

 Go 'way, — Go 'way — . 



III. 



Wild cherry bough and hanging nest, 

 And calls amid the apple bloom, 

 No need to tell whose flaming breast 

 And fluting note lead all the rest, — 

 Glory — Glory — Glory — Glory- 

 Glory, — Come-0, Come-O — . 



85 



Mary Hefferan, 



