272 Mr Audubon's Observations on the 



sluggish ; it is a kind of laboured crawling, performed by moving 

 alternately each leg, in the manner of a quadruped when walk- 

 ing, scarce able to keep up their weighty bodies from dragging 

 on the earth, and leaving the track of their long tail on the mud, 

 as if that of the keel of a small vessel. Thus they emerge from 

 the water, and go about the shores and the woods, or the fields, 

 in search of food, or of a different place of abode, or one of 

 safety to deposit their eggs. If, at such times, when at all dis- 

 tant from the water, an enemy is perceived by them, they droop 

 and lie flat, with their nose on the ground, watching the intru- 

 der's movements with their eyes, which are able to move con- 

 siderably round, without affecting the position of the head. 

 Should a man then approach them, they do not attempt either 

 to make away or attack, but merely raise their body from the 

 ground for an instant, swelling themselves, and issuing a dull 

 blowing sound, not unlike that of a blacksmith's bellows. Not 

 the least danger need be apprehended ; then you either kill them 

 with ease or leave them. But, to give you a better idea of the 

 slowness of their movements and progress of travels on land, 

 when arrived at a large size, say 12 to 15 feet, believe me when 

 I tell you, that, having found one in the morning 50 yards from 

 a lake going to another in sight, I have left him unmolested, 

 hunted through the surrounding swamps all the day, and met 

 the same alligator within 500 yards of the spot, when returning 

 to my camp at dusk. On this account they usually travel du- 

 ring the night, they being then less likely to be disturbed, and 

 having a better chance to surprise a litter of pigs, or of land- 

 tortoises, for prey. 



The power of the alligator is in his great strength ; and the 

 chief means of his attack or defence is his large tail, so well con- 

 trived by nature to supply his wants, or guard him from dan- 

 ger, that it reaches, when curved into half a circle, his enormous 

 mouth. Woe be to him who goes within the reach of this tre- 

 mendous thrashing instrument^ for no matter how strong or 

 muscular ; if human, he must suffer greatly, if he escapes with 

 life. The monster, as he strikes with this, forces all objects 

 within the circle towards his jaws, which, as the tail makes a mo- 

 tion, are open to their full stretch, thrown a little sidewise, to 



