TORTOISES. 259 



where he caught a young alligator. This animal he made so 

 perfectly tame that it followed him about the house like a dog, 

 scrambling up the stairs after him, and showing much affection 

 and docility. Its great favourite, however, was a cat, and the 

 friendship was mutual. When the cat was reposing herself 

 before the fire (this was at New York), the alligator would lay 

 himself down, place his head upon the cat, and in this attitude 

 go to sleep. If the cat was absent the alligator was restless ; 

 but he always appeared happy when the cat was near him. The 

 only instance in which he showed any ferocity was in attacking 

 a fox, which was tied up in the yard. Probably, however, the 

 fox resented some playful advances which the other had made, 

 and thus called forth the anger of the alligator. In attacking 

 the fox he did not make use of his mouth, but beat him with so 

 much severity with his tail, that, had not the chain which con- 

 fined the fox broken, he would probably have killed him. The 

 alligator was fed on raw flesh, and sometimes with milk, for 

 which he showed a great fondness. In cold weather he was 

 shut up in a box, with wool in it ; but, having been forgotten 

 one frosty night, he was found dead in the morning. This is 

 not, I believe, a solitary instance of amphibia becoming tame, 

 and showing a fondness for those who have been kind to them. 

 Blumenbach mentions that crocodiles have been tamed ; and 

 two instances have occurred under my own observation of toads 

 knowing their benefactors, and coming to meet them with con- 

 siderable alacrity. 



With regard to the higher intelligence of reptiles, I 

 may quote the following instances. 



Three or four different correspondents tell me of cases 

 which they have themselves observed, of snakes and 

 tortoises unmistakably distinguishing persons. In one of 

 these cases the tortoise would come to the call of the 

 favoured person, and when it came would manifest its 

 affection by tapping the boot of this person with its mouth ; 

 * but it would not answer anyone else.' A separation of 

 some weeks did not affect the memory of this tortoise for 

 his friend. 1 



1 The tortoise which has gained such immortal celebrity by having 

 fallen under the observation of the author of the Natural History of 

 Selborne, likewise distinguished persons in this way. For ' whenever 

 the good old lady came in sight, who had waited on it for more than 

 thirty years, it always hobbled with awkward alacrity towards its 

 benefactress, whilst to strangers it was altogether inattentive.' 



