The St. Johns herald., 1893-10-12
AN UGLY CREATURE.
The Venomous Gila Monster of
 Arizona.
Although Many Fabulous Stories Are Told About the Strange Reptile It Is in Reality Very Fierce and
 Deadly.

corning which much has been said and lots of little stories have been written, but its habits, nevertheless, are not we'll known, even where it is most ire quently found. It was no uncommon sight in former years, says the San Francisco Chronicle, to see Mexican and Indian boys trailing the hideOus things at the ends of strings along the streets Of towns and settlements of Arizona, taking care always to keep their bare feet out of the way of the uncanny-looking lizard. Sometimes, too, gila monsters, strapped to board like planked shad, would be offered for sale at prices ranging from medic to toston fifty cents), with few or no buyers. In the event that nobody wanted to increase his menagerie with one of the wicked-looking beasts, it was generally stoned to death by it's owners as protest against it's general uselessness.
 Several years ago gila monsters be- came somewhat in demand for eastern collectors. and stuffed or in the flesh they command better prices now, large specimens, presumably wanted for geological gardens, being paid for at good figures. Strangely enough, since the interest in the reptile has grown it has become somewhat scarce. In fact, the capture of one and its transition to wire rat trap in the shop of taxi dermist in an Arizona town is consid- cred worthy of an item by the local re- porter. No sooner has the news of the distinguished arrival been heralded than it is gravely inspected by every tenderfoot in town, who posters its owner with so many ''darn fool'' ques- tions that he is glad to hide his ac- quisition in the back yard.
 Most of the fabulous stories circu- lated about the gila monster have had their origin in the minds of the curio sellers, who were thus bored to death by the seeker after information who was not willing to buy something and thus recoup the business man for his loss of time and the ennui that an swering greenhorns produced.
 Whatever may have been said about the looks of the gila monster, it is fact that it is repulsive, crawling, un- canny reptile, perhaps not so ugly as many another lizard-the iguana, for instance-but instinctively abhorred because it is so slow. Flight being matter of impossibility with the gila monster, and as it lacks the cunning to feign death, it must necessarily as- sume a bold front when threatened with capture or injury.
 The length of the monsters usually captured varies from one foot to two feet and few inches, but specimens foot and a half in length are those most generally brought in. Of this the big, conical tail forms one-third. The weight will average from three to five pounds. The head is more lance shaped than that of any other lizard found in Arizona, the consequence be- ing that the narrow neck is very pro- nounced and imparts to the head while it moves something very much like the rattlesnake's performance.
 When attacked the gila monster re- treats about half his length and crouches close to the ground, but rear ing head and neck in fierce manner, while a black, forked tongue over an inch in length, darts swiftly out of mouth abnormally wide and cavernous. At the same time it emits hiss, joint ly with a creaking noise, which is made by scraping either its claws, which are pointed and sharp, or the rough scales of its body upon the stones or gravel beneath it. If this demonstration fails to repulse the az gressor the gila monster will not hesi- tate, when thoroughly angered, to make a snap at the foe, be it man or beast. But it will never attack any thing that it does not require for food unless first interfered with. If escape be near in the shape of a burro in the ground or a hole in the rocks large enough for its acco mmodation, the monster will discreetly retire from view and remain hidden until the enemy has retired.
 If the reptile manages to get grip with its horny mouth, as hard and cut ting as that of a snapping turtle and filled with sharp needle-lil1e teeth, upon the yielding flesh of an aggressor, the vice-like jaws can only be pried apart by great muscular action with some instrument. The wounds show all the indication of blood poisoning by means of venom, the limbs swell, failure of the nervous system becomes apparent, and death may ensue, unless prompt medical assistance brings re- lief.
 The story that the bite of the gila monster is incurable is not true, but help must be obtained quickly, as sev- eral well-authenticated cases have proved. Curiously enough, in the case of men who have been bitten, it was found that those who were strictly temperate recovered far more quickly than those who were in the habit of taking stimulants. It turned out also that, unlike many cases in which bites had been inflicted by venomous snakes of the North American species, whisky did not act as an antidote at all, rather aggravating the symptoms.