The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-05

/ completely under its surface, anchored
as II were. But when | found, after
I twelve hours OF continuous immersion,
that the saurian was as alive as ever. /
then, with the help Of another man, tried
| 70 strangle the animal, but did not succeed.
At this stage friend arrived at he house,
and related to him my perplexity, and
he-a native OF Sonora-killed the animal
IN second By giving IL a moderate short
dry knock with the poker on the back part
Of the skull, where the latter JOINS the back
bone. tel ing me that the CHA monster had
soft spot there, which found to be the
case while stuffing the animals.
In direct contrast wit the aforementioned
peacefully inclined specimen were several
which kept at different times. They
would pounce upon anything that came in
an aggressive manner near them. and do
not remember any small animal or bird
that lived longer than from ten to thirty
minutes after being bitten, with one excep-
ton. Small creatures, like mice and little
pullets, would die almost Immediately. A
good-sized 3-year-old rooster, however,
which had fight one day and was bitten in
the leg, survived the battle for several
years. although remaining lame The lizard
bad one eve put out aud was otherwise
pretty a lily used. SO that / killed him in
order to make new experiment. boiled
him for about two hours in a vell-cleansed
q
about one pint az ne liaIhd Substance.
He Tapped it eagerly, as If it were beef
tea, appeared to enjoy it greatly. and mant-
testify looked about for more. Although |
kept him locked up for several days in my
courtyard. failed to discover in him the
least Inconvenience resulting from the I'M
accustomed diet. This experiment l re-
peated at different times, whenever
received a specimen whose mutilated carcass
mil Flf ckt ~ oil stt
the same harmless result; so that came to
the conclusion that either the process of
boiling or the gastric Juice of the dogs
stomach neutralized the venom.
But where is this venom located? When
found, 70 my great surprise, that, not
outstanding the evident outer resemblance
of its head to that of the rattlesnake, there
we're no venomous fangs, no venom blad-
ders, no visible receptacle for venom; and,
furthermore, that, whereas the jaws OF
venomous snakes are simply held in posi-
ton by number Of elastic skins, which al
low their threats to stretch to great extent,
and thus enable them TO swallow bodies of
greater circumference than themselves,
the jaws of the Heloderma are we'll
locked or hinged like those of the quadru-
peds. lt.
Although have always been careful not
to come into direct contact with live Gila
monster, l have never taken any particular
precautions for my hands while stuffing one
and have handled its flesh freely. The ami
mai has two rows-upper and lower-of
very sharp teeth on each side. these of the
upper jaw being considerably longer than
the lower. The stomach is very small.
Strange to say, the skin is thinnest on the
back, and along the spine is as thin as pa
per, while it becomes thicker toward the
belly, and is thickest around the tail. The
little paws are exquisitely shaped, and the
forepaws resemble-the thumb excepted
very much a human hand in form.
have never yet seen ella monster eat
or drink. although had several that be-
came tame enough. What little they did
eat or drink was made away with either at
night or when nobody is present. gener-
ally gave them chopped meat or earth
worms; but am positive that quite fire.
quently, especially after being recon tly
captured, they would go without food or
drink for a week or more It's natural
food suppose to consist of small insects,
bugs, worms and larvae; and as it has
never been seen before April or after
September it is rational to conclude that it
hibernates during the cool and cold seasons.