36 



THE COMMON ALLIGATOR. 



most reptiles as long as their passions are not touched, the Alligator has within it a very mine 

 of furious rage, which, when aroused, knows no fear. Urged by a blind instinct that sees no 

 obstacles, and hardly deserves so intellectual a name as anger, it flings itself upon the assail- 

 ants, and only ceases its attack as its last breath is drawn. 



No easy matter is it to drive the breath out of an Alligator, for its life seems to take 

 a separate hold of every fibre in the creature's body, and though pierced through and through 

 with bullets, crushed by heavy blows, and its body converted into a very pin-cushion, spears 

 taking the place of the pins, it writhes and twists, and struggles with wondrous strength, 

 snapping direfully with its huge jaws, and lashing its muscular tail from side to side with 

 such vigor that it takes a bold man to venture within range of that terrible weapon. 



ALLIGATOR. Alligator misaissipiensis. 



It is fortunate for the assailant that its head is not gifted with mobility equal to that 

 of the tail. The Alligator can only turn its head very slightly indeed, on account of two bony 

 projections, one on each side of the head, which are efficient obstacles to any but the smallest 

 lateral motion. The antagonist may therefore easily escape if on land, by springing aside 

 before the reptile can turn. He must, however, beware of its tail, for the Alligator when 

 angry, sweeps right and left with that powerful member, and deals the most destructive blows 

 with wonderful rapidity. Still, the creature would rather avoid than seek a combat, and does 

 not act in this fashion until driven to despair. 



In some parts of America they catch the Alligator in a very ingenious manner. An ordi- 

 nary hook is said to be of little service against such a quarry, and the natives employ a kind 

 of mixture between a hook and grapnel which very effectually answers their purpose. This 

 so-called hook is made of four sticks of hard tough wood barbed at each end, slightly curving 

 and bound together at one end so as to cause all the upper barbs to radiate from each other. 



