The Fur Animals of Louisiana 



175 



Relative sizes of a newly-hatched baby 'gator and an ancient member of the family- 



age unknown. 



and the first of March. This, of course, depends a great 

 deal upon the state of the weather, continued warm days, 

 and whether or not it has been a cold or mild winter. The 

 Louisiana alligator, however, does not hibernate all through 

 the winter, as has been popularly supposed. Any warm 

 day during December or January will find these reptiles, 

 especially the larger bull specimens, out sunning themselves 

 on a "shelf" alongside some bayou. 



The mating takes place on the ground and during this 

 season the mating notes, a bellowing something between a 

 moan and a roar, can be heard a considerable distance. 

 The bull bellows most constantly during this period of the 

 year, the cow answering, although it has been stated that 

 bellowing is confined to the male. The bellow of the bull, 

 being heavier in timbre, is easily recognizable. Mating is 

 acompanied by a great deal of fighting on the part of each, 

 slapping one another with their long, heavy tails; the cow 

 using not only her tail but jaws, even if the attentions of 

 the bull are not distasteful. Missing or mutilated legs and 



