Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-04-02
THE VENOMOUS REPTILE.
IT is THE "CILA MONSTER" OF
ARIZONA.
4 Repulsive Looking Object-Its Bite Be.
lieved to be Followed by Ger
tain Death--Scientifc Ex-
animation. -

Curiosity, prompted by the conflict
ing reports concerning the so-called
ella monster, caused Mr.. Award J.
Moore, of New York, to send to a
western friend for live specimen. 1t
was captured near Florence, Arizona,
town on the ella river. 1t measures
nineteen and half inches in length,
the breadth across the back being three
and a half and the weight seven
pounds 1t is most repulsive looking
reptile, the head resembling that of q
large snake. The body is pulled out
like a big pouch, and touches the
ground even when it stands erect on it's
four black legs, that measure four
inches each. The tail is seven and a
half inches in length and about one and
a half inches in diameter, being of the
same size throughout and terminating
abruptly. The mouth is black, with
tongue of the same hue, fiat and forked.
1t is the one of the lizard family that
is extremely poisonous. 1t is known
as the Heloderma horridune by scien-
fists. It's coloring is like that of a
rattlesnake, black figuring on yellow,
the entire body being scaly. The
specimen is an exceptionally good one
measuring within six inches OF the
length OF the largest ever found.
In speaking of it Mr.. Moore said:
Tourists who spend but short time
in the several towns of Arizona hear
very little of the ella monster If
they haunt the curio stores to any ex-
tent a few specimens may be seen, but
the price asked seems exorbitant to
the casual observer, and unless he has
previously heard some of the wondrous
stories told of the Gila monster it is
quite likely that he will depart with
out realizing fully what sort of a
reptile he has seen. But mingle among
the people and one soon hears such
marvellous stories that the curiosity i.
excited to investigate for himself. On,
sight Of the hideous monster usual.
satisfies the most curious. An Indial
would rather face a howitzer. Boil
Mexicans and Indians believe it to be
cross between a rattlesnal1e and
lizard. While the head resemble
that of the rattlesnake, its poiso
in some respects is similar to tina
of the cobra. The natives captur
it by long sapling with a noos
at the end, so that it cannot &c
nearer to them than three or fou
feet. They are occasionally sent int
town in that way, lunging and spittin:
to the terror of the Mexicans and II
dians. Those acquainted with its habit
say that its breath is extremely vir,
lent and from this it receives the nj
tive cognomen, escupion (es-coo-pe'
yawn), meaning in English the splitter
Its redeeming feature is its sluggis
movement. The heavy tail draggin
on the ground tends to impede its pro-
ress. When travelling over sandy SC
il leaves trail that serves as war
ing of its near presence. AS it is
very slow traveller, it may be know
when trail is discovered that ella
not far off. Persons not otherwise
formed have concluded from its stu
gishness that it is harmless, but this
a great mistake. In some case it is II
easily provoked at other times spe
mems are found that are extremely ir
table The mouth is large and stror
everything within reach.
Not long ago the subject came
for discussion at meeting of the c
lege of Physicians in Philadelph
Drs. Mitchell and Reichart had on ha
live, vigorous specimens. DR.. Mitch
caused one to attack the edge OF di
and some of the saliva was caught Il
watch glass. The poison OF venom'
reptiles is acidulous, but that
alkaline A minute quantity was
jected in live pigeon, which died
less than nine minutes, although
poison is very slow. According to
physicians 'Rattlesnake poison il
bagatelle in comparison On the OF
hand S. German of Harvard says t
the stories of fatality from its bite
greatly overdrawn. He caused a =,
ten to be bit twice by the monster.
post-mortem examination after the
ond bite disclosed no indications
poison. Large worms and ms
seemed to die much more quickly Il
the bite than when cut in pieces by
scissors.
THE people in Arizona most fami
with the habits of the reptile &C
that its bite is very dangerous
when the monster is enraged, whe
gives off peculiar blackish saliva.
Long Distance Laughter.