The Fur Animals of Louisiana 



179 



Gaitor hunters demonstrating the capacity of the mouth of the big fellow they have 



just secured. 



about 14 feet, they are now becoming very rare. A number 

 of 15-footers have been recorded in Louisiana, one "big 

 one" captured, that I measured, proving to be 14 feet 11 

 inches in length. Hornady reports a Louisiana skin 16 feet 

 3 inches and du Pratz accounts for one 19 feet long and 

 another 22. 



One noteworthy thing reported by alligator hunters is 

 that there are two color phases in Louisiana — black and 

 yellow. They seem to hatch in these colors and hold the 

 phase almost to maturity and the two phases come from 

 the same nest. A test for sexual differences as an answer 

 to the difference in coloring failed, as both sexes were 

 found in the darker and lighter coloration. It is said by 

 native hunters that one cow will occupy the nest of another 

 cow that has been killed and they have noted that two 

 sets of little 'gators take up with another cow after the 

 death of their own mother. 



