22 The Alligator and Its Allies 



was found in any other nest; while in other nests 

 that were twice as large as this one were found less 

 than half as many eggs, showing that there is no 

 relation between the size of the nest and the number 

 of eggs. The average number of eggs per nest, 

 in the twelve nests that were noted, was thirty-one. 

 One observer reported a nest that contained sixty 

 eggs, but this, if true, was a very unusual case. 

 Reports of still larger numbers of eggs in one nest 

 probably refer to crocodiles, which are said to lay 

 one hundred or more eggs in a nest. Although 

 crocodiles may be found in certain parts of Florida, 

 the writer has had no opportunity of observing 

 their nesting habits. 



The eggs are laid in the nest without any apparent 

 arrangement. After the nest has been prepared, 

 and has had time to settle properly, the alligator 

 scrapes off the top, and lays the eggs in a hole 

 in the damp, decaying vegetation; the top of the 

 nest is again rounded off, and it is impossible to 

 tell, without examination, whether the nest con- 

 tains eggs or not. 



As to whether the same nest is used for more 

 than one season there is a difference of opinion 

 among alligator hunters, and the writer has had 

 no opportunity of making personal observations. 



While it is usually stated that the eggs are in- 

 cubated by the heat of the sun, it is held by some 

 observers that the necessary heat is derived not 

 from the sun but from the decomposition of the 



