Original Observations on Reptiles and Insects of Texas. 29 



mous reptile lies dormant in a corner as if in deep stupor, but 

 it has its vicious eyes open, and when disturbed it easily gets 

 restless and crawls lazily around the cage, constantly stretching 

 its long tongue out like a snake. Its jaws, I am told, are sup- 

 plied with a number of sharp teeth — its weapons of attack, and 

 by which its deadly saliva is instilled into the lacerated wounds. 

 When Mr. Menck disturbed it with an iron rod, it became very 

 lively and showed none of its sleepy nature. This reptile ha? 

 a very clumsy, broad body, supplied with a long, broad and 

 spotted tail, and is of a peculiar reddish-yellow color, spotted 

 with large and broad black spots, and resembles somewhat the 

 intermediate appearance of a young crocodile, an enormous 

 tadpole, or an immensely large lizard. It has four short, black- 

 colored feet with five toes each, and its large and broad jet- 

 black tongue is constantly expelled and retracted when dis- 

 turbed. When the photo was taken, it was rather restless, and 

 a time picture could not be taken in the rather dark apartment, 

 but as soon as Mr. Menck fed it with raw eggs in a saucer, and 

 after having taken several mouthfuls, the monster held its head 

 high and remained steady enough during the act to allow a 

 picture to be taken at close range, Mr. Menck watching it con- 

 stantly with an iron rod in his hand. 



The deadly poison, it is alleged, is contained in the saliva, 

 which, after the teeth have lacerated the tissues, is rapidly inoc- 

 ulated. It is said the Gila monster kills the rattlesnake, a 

 traveler having encountered such a monster in the act of chew- 

 ing up the head and neck part of a recently killed rattler. Its 

 home is in the rocky and mountainous regions of Arizona, and 

 in particular along the Gila river, and it is considered there, 

 and especially by the native Indians, as one of the most deadly 

 of animals. I will read to you, gentlemen, the sad and terrible 

 fate of a tourist's companion in Arizona, published in the Phila- 

 delphia Times in the year 1893, and reproduced in a medical 

 journal : 



"Florence, Arizona, June 22, 1893. 



Richard M. Farthingay, a tourist from Minneapolis, returned 

 here last evening with the remains of Arthur James, who had 

 accompanied him on the journey, and who had died the day 

 before from the bite of a Gila monster. 



