Brimley — Notes on the Zoology of Lake Ellis, North Carolina. 137 



the edge of the marsh or of an island until a place was found where it 

 was evident from the muddy water that an alligator had gone into his 

 hole. One man with a fish gig thereupon probed about through the sur- 

 face layer of roots and grass until he found the alligator's body, when he 

 stuck in the gig and held on. A second man with a spade then dug a 

 hole through the marsh as near as was convenient, making sure, of 

 course, of digging into the alligator's run. A pole was then procured 

 and the animal prodded with it until he not only bit but held on. He 

 was then dragged to the surface until sufficient of his head was visible to 

 allow the man with the rifle to finish him with a bullfet through the brain. 

 None were taken or looked for in 1907, and only one captured in 1908, 

 no special effort being made in either year to procure specimens. 



