Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-08-04
Its Bite is Dangerous, and Men Have
Died From Wounds Inflicted by
It-Becoming Scarce.

CentSl TO tOStOn unity ceulSI, WIFI
few or no buyers. In the event that
nobody wanted to increase his menag-
erie with one of the wicked looking
beasts, it was generally stoned to death
by its owners as protest against its
general usefulness.
Several years ago CHA 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.
Whatever may have been said about
the looks of the ella monster, it is Il
repulsive, crawling, nncanny reptile,
perhaps not so ugly as many another
lizard-the iguana, for instance-but
instinctiyely abhorred because it is so
SLOW Flight beinga matter of impos-
sility with the Gila monster, and ms IT
lacks the cunning to feign death, 1t
| must necessarily assume a bold front
when threatened with capture or in
! Jury, and that it knows how to do in a
manner which will make even those
totally ignorant of the danger they
run careful of too close an approach.
The length of the monsters usually
captured varies from one foot to two
feet and a few inches, but specimens a
| foot and 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 rattlesnakes performance.
When attacked the CHA monster re.
treats about halfits length and crouches
close to the ground, but rearing
head and neck in fierce manner, while
black, forked tongue, over an inch Ill
length, darts swiftly oft of n mouth
abnormally wide and cavcrnous. Al
the same time IT emits IL hiss Jointly
with creaking noise which is mad,
by scraping either its claws, which art
pointed and sharp, or the rough scales
on it's body upon the stones or gravel
beneath it. If this demonstration
fails to repulsc the aggressor the ella
monster will not hesitate, wher
thoroughly angered, to make a snap nj
the foe, be it man or beast. But il
will never attack anything that it doe'
not require for food unless first inter.
fered with. If escape be near in the
shape of burrow in the ground or q
hole in the rocks large enough for its
accommodation, the monster will dis
creetly retire from view and remain
hidden until the enemy has retired.
II the reptile manages to get II grip
with its horny mouth, as hard an,
cutting as that Of a swapping turtl,
and filed with sharp, needle-like teeth,
upon the yielding flesh of an aggres
sor, the vice-ike jaws can only b,
pried apart by great muscular actor
with some instrument. The wounds
show all the indications Of blooC
poisoning by means of venom, tn,
limbs swell, failure of the nervous
system becomes apparent, and deatl
may ensue unless prompt medical AS
sistance brings relief.
The story that the bite of tho Gil,
monster is inourable is not true, bu
help must be obtained quickly, a.
several ell-authenticated cases have
proved. Curiously enough, in tn,
case of men who have been bitten, il
was found that those who were strictly
temperate recovered far more quickly
than those who were in the habit o
taking stimulants. 1t turned out also
that. unlike many cases III which bites
had been inflicted by venomous snakel
of the North American species, whisk J
did not act rs an antidote at all
rather aggravating the symptoms.
e. l.. Wetmore, a taxidermist o
Tucson, who has dissected many o
these lizards, says he has been unabl,
to discover where the venom which
they undoubtedly inject into tn,
wounds they produce comes from. II
poisonous snakes it exudes from sacl
above the fangs, but in the ella mon
ster the closest Investigation has failed
to show any such glands connected
with the teeth. Undoubtedly it is the
saliva of the monster, lubricating itl
sharp incisors, that produces the
chemical change in the blood. Fol
that reason it is believed that in the
salivary glands the venom will be
found, but that is the extent of what
is known of the ella monsters danger
GUS power.
By reason of its slowness the mon.
ster's diet is necessarily Emitted 1t ii
q climber, and az such has no difficulty
in robbing nests in which there art
eggs or helpless young II will also
investigate the warrens of chipmunkt
and cottontal rabbits and eat the pup.
pies. It does not interfere with other
lizards; at least it shows complete
indifference for horned toads and fol-
a sluggish black fellow, about six
inches long, which it would have nc
difficulty in catching.
When kept in cage the ella mon
ster Is always fed on hens eggs, the
shells of which it cracks, after which
it very neatly disposes of their con
tents.
Last year W. L. Vail prominent
cattle raiser of this territory, eapied 4
Gila monster summing itself in the road
while he was riding to Pantana or
horseback. He threw stones at it, and
thinking it WAS killed, when in reality,
it was merely stunned, he tied it be
hind his saddle to carry along as 1
curiosity. Near the end of his journey
| no mt hiu haul I>oolr g. l.,