SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
429 
GILA MONSTER 
So called from the Gila River in Arizona. The only member of the 
lizard family known to be venomous except the very similar 
crust-lizard found in Mexico. 
winter time is the same as the mud in which it is buried, 
while "in the summer time it is much higher. What is 
true of the reptiles in respect to temperature is also true 
of Amphibians and Fishes. However, this is not true 
of Birds and Mammals, for these have a uniform tem- 
perature so high that they are called warm-blooded. 
In the United States there is but one species of Alli- 
gator and but one species of Crocodile, both limited to 
the Southeastern States. 
There are about fifty kinds of Turtles and Tortoises 
in North America, some of which live on the land and 
feed largely upon plants, e. g., the Common Box Turtle, 
found from the New England States to South Caro- 
lina and westward to Kansas, and the Gopher Tortoise 
of the Southern States. Others are aquatic, like the 
Painted Turtles, which are found in one form or an- 
other practically all over the United States. 
Many of these reptiles are highly prized as food, e, g 
Diamond-backed Terrapin, Soft-shelled Turtle, Snap- 
ping Turtle and Gopher Tortoise. 
