The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-09-15

4 &s#.r q. G. II. fs Land and Water.
, A great surprise has visited Psychological
London, In the shspe Of venornous lizard.
We have 30 long been accustomed to ridicule
'as fabulous the belief prevalent In some
countries that certain lizards have poison
ous bite, that We are slow to commit oursel.
YES to the recognition Of i living lizard, "sll
of whose teeth are grooved and connected
with poison glands" as we are Informed at
the Geological Gardens. This startling rep.
tile, presented by Sir John Lubbock, is from
Mexico, 1t arrived on July 10Th, and has
since drawn crowda Of the zoologically
curious 10 inspect II, and, 1t first, to doubt
II. As yet have seen no printed or authen-
tic account Of the distinguished stranger
but, until more able pens shall give your
readers scientific description of it, I may
briefly describe 1t as about one foot and .
half In length, Of somewhat. thickish form,
and with rather short, pointed tail. Except
In color IT. aspect ID not prepossessing. Hello
derm 10 its name, Heloder1ma horridma
scientifically. My only knowledge. Of the
Greek language is that 1t Is subssrvient to
science, and zoologicslly defiant Of gender
and case, sometimes Of spelling; therefore
conjecturally hello, the first part Of the gene.
ric name, may have reference TO the pale,
yeliowish, or sunny color Of this creature, ss
certain flowers, helianthemum, heliotrope,
and helianthus, are named from helios, the
sun, - our botany books instruct us; and
derm Is certainly skin. Heloderm is Of :
pale ocher or. maize color, with coarse
retlculation Of black marks all overit,;; and
ito specific Aorridsns, deferentially infering
its terrible, dreadful qualities, 10 not given
in slangy disgust, as ID supposed toa'be, the
case with its neighbor, Crotalus horridus
aHorrid rattlesnake |" exclaimed aIady sbi.
tor In my hearing. aWhat's the use pf CALI:
ing that one shorrid,' - II they are not al
| horridp isHas- ~astl ~ s.sk'-rF ~:
An interesting 6eld Of. inquiry is nov opsr
to herpetologists In seeking for missinl
iinks among the sauriau tribe, and 70 do
cover BY what singular modification one
lizard has developed-not single pair o
fanes like its ophidian relatives, but
whole row Of grooved teeth, snda BY r~ha
process Of evolution al these teeth are sop
piled with venom. n I ~ ssasa 1-4s
It wsuld appear that this lizard u not u
together unknown, for--a the story goes,
gentleman in Mexico was once bitten BY. on'
or the species, hD hand and arm In Lint
becoming 70 seriously injured that amputa
tion seemed .hs only hops for him, % .h'
lost his arm bat saved bis life, and afterwart
eatertained the tssrstfui idea that he mich
have enjoyed the latter without the penalty
or the former. The only deducibie srgunsn'
from this accident Is that Heioderm's venom
| ID very different from serpent venom, which
rapidly, instautaneously dscomposes th.
lblood 70 the rsmotest extremity ofths body
a,cting on the nerve csntsrs," = experiment
alists tell Us, and 'sdestroying every vita
| function. However, those who dnpdehet
Tho, Helodsrm fortunately esespedeA bite
which Il probably due 70 tho, fact That the
reptile, was langnid Or lstharsies afsri III
,surney, for n wss handled fssrlsssly
cause unconscious of danger-by The keep
On and others; but ~ dangerous qualities
having bssn reported, Hwas Tasted With
frog, which died afsr few savass bites,and
thsn guinea pig, which vas convuised snd
dead In three minntss after ons bite on IL
isg. .s...,.,s II - = 60 safvos'es