Capture and Death of a large Alligator. 77 



rock, at the lower extremity of Glen Rosa in Arran, has af- 

 forded me brown and yellow grossulaire garnets, red translu- 

 cent almandine garnets, and massive colophonite garnet. 



7. Blocks of very fine granular granite, near Brodick, in- 

 clude very minute bluish-^r^^w heryU* and white and honey 

 yellow topazes, 



10. Med ferruginous augite or pyroxene occurs in large 

 blocks of basalt, at the northern entrance of the village of 

 Corrie, in the island of Arran. 



Account of the Capture and Death of a large Alligator., at 

 Manilla., in the Island of Luconia., one of the Philippines. 



In the course of the year 1831, the proprietor of Halahala, 

 at Manilla, in the island of Luconia, informed me that he fre- 

 quently lost horses and cows on a remote part of his planta- 

 tion, and that the natives assured him they were taken by an 

 enormous alligator, who frequented one of the streams which 

 run into the lake. Their descriptions were so highly wrought, 

 that they were attributed to the fondness for exaggeration to 

 which the inhabitants of that country are peculiarly addicted, 

 and very little credit was given to their repeated relations. 



All doubts as to the existence of the animal were at last 

 dispelled by the destruction of an Indian, who attempted to 

 ford the river on horseback, although entreated to desist by 

 his companions, who crossed at a shallow place higher up. He 

 reached the centre of the stream, and was laughing at the 

 others for their prudence, when the alligator came upon him. 

 His teeth encountered the saddle, which he tore from the 

 horse, while the rider tumbled on the other side into the water, 

 and made for the shore. The horse, too terrified to move, 

 stood trembling when the attack was made. The alligator, 

 disregarding him, pursued the man, who safely reached the 

 bank, which he could easily have ascended, but, rendered fool- 

 hardy by his escape, he placed himself behind a tree which 



* We found in the island of Arran, many years ago, a specimen of graphic 

 granite, containing blue beryls, one of the crystals nearly an inch long. — Edit. 



