258 



SNAKES, TUKTLES, LIZARDS, CROCODILES 



kept in captivity easily and tlirive on a diet of insects 

 (Fig. 178). 



Fig. 17S. — Horned toad from Texas. 



The Gila monster. — Tliere occurs in the soutli western 

 part of ttie United States, especially in New Mexico and 

 Arizona, the largest lizard in the United States, the Gila 

 monster. This lizard may attain a length of twenty inches. 

 Its body is deep black with blotches of orange, and covered 

 by hard, roimded tubercles and scales. Recent experi- 

 ments have shown it to be poisonous. The poison glands 

 are situated in the lower jaw near the anterior end (Fig. 

 179). 



