We recently had a cat killed by a vet because of a second vicious and
totally unexpected biting incident.  In effect, it was the end of an
unsuccessful attempt to adopt a quasi-stray 3-year old male
(originally not neutered).  It caused my wife and I considerable
emotional pain because 99% of the short time we had him, the cat was
truly adorable, a unique and extremely interesting animal.  A strong,
confident and vicious warrior, he was very kind and respectful to our
12 year old female tabby.  I would hike up and down Burnaby Mountain
with him here in Greater Vancouver at a pace that would send most
ordinary folks to hospital.  He loved it.

Can somebody please direct me to animal behaviour literature that
would suggest techniques of how to modify dangerous biting behaviour?

I have been searching the UseNet groups as well as browsing this one.
I am well aware of most of the biting behaviour mentionned and do not
see those forms of biting as a problem.  Discipline biting when
irritated by excessive petting, biting during rough play, affectionate
biting and chewing, etc.  That behaviour I understand and can manage
with ease.  What I am referring to are reactive bites that pierce to
or almost to the bone, pierce into cartilage, and occur at lightning
speed.

The conventional wisdom is that you "put down" animals like this.  We
had to because we could not risk a suburban neighbour, particularly a
child, getting bitten.  I want to keep exploring just in case somebody
like an academic egg-head has come up with interesting behavioural
modification techniques that none of the folks we consulted were aware
of.  (Please understand that nibbling or biting the cat's ears would
not have worked.)

regards -Erik, British Columbia