1879. ] Zoology. 781 
States, one only, known to zodlogists as Chelopus marmoratus, is, 
so far as Iam aware, found in California, and is the terrapin o of 
our markets. 
Terrapins were once common in the creeks and ponds around 
the bay, but the constant demand for their flesh has made them 
scarce, so that the present supply comes from the region around 
SEES EPR from Knight’s Ferry, from Tuolumne county, and 
the southern part of the San Joaquin valley generally; as well as 
from the neighborhood of Visalia. 
The dealers say that those from Visalia and from the San 
Joaquin are far superior to those from Sacramento. In the latter 
the under side is almost white, while in the former it is dark, 
approaching black; the latter will often die by the dozen soon 
after they are brought in for sale, while the former will keep alive 
for months. 
A terrapin thus kept and not fed, gradually BENRA =: in 
weight, but is not injured in any other way. During its confine- 
ment it is really feeding on its own fat, and adal aa as is the range 
of its activities, and gradual the vag oe from them, the 
results are obvious after a month or two; that a terrapin kept 
six or seven months without food, TAT “still alive, is little but 
shell, bone and skin. 
Terrapin are abundant in the reservoir of the San Rafael water 
works, where, however, fishing is not allowed without permission. 
There are some in the basin of the fountain at Woodward’s Gar- 
dens, and of these, iea discovered that small lumps of dirt 
thrown at it while sunning itself on a rock do not hurt it, declines 
any more to dive under these provocations, and simply cranes its 
long neck to see what is the matter. 
Heloderma suspectum Cope. Several specimens of this large 
lizard have been presented to the California Academy of Sciences 
or to Woodward’s Gardens during the past year. "It attains a 
length of about eighteen inches, has a thick stout body of a bright 
yellow color mingled with brown, and it is of a most unattractive 
aspect, which doubtless accounts for its title of “ Gila monster. 
as the unenviable reputation of being a poisonous lizard, and 
R e it has been proved not to be poisonous by cy. IS 
as there is not in nature, so far as is known, such a thing as 
poisonous lizard, yet the idea is based on a better foundation than 
that of most popular beliefs, for, as I am informed by Prof. Cope, 
the front teeth are grooved and there is a gland at the base. lor | 
this reason Prof. Cope named it suspectum, and he oe to 
think that after all he would prefer to be bitten by some other 
kind of lizard. 
The Gila monster is slow in its motions, and when pursued 
will stop and show fight in a feeble sort of way—peculiarities 
which, together with the large size and conspicuous color, gna 
- it sy to “be captured, and it is not unlikely that it wil ere 
