ALLIGATOR MISSISSIPPIENSIS. 59 



peculiar structure of the lieart — the large lungs — the nostrils closed with valves, 

 make him eminently aquatic, and enables him to remain for a long time beneath 

 the surface without injury. "Some of the organs of sense even are constructed to 

 receive impressions under water as well as on land: thus the ear is covered with 

 two movable lips, which are closed in one instance and separated in the other, as 

 the impression is to be made by elastic or liquid fluids." 



The female Alligator mounts small sandy hillocks, or she constructs small 

 mounds, with mud and vegetable substances, in which she deposits her eggs; 

 these are hatched by the heat of the sun in about thirty days. As soon as the 

 young are disengaged from the shell, they seek the water "and shift for them- 

 selves," the parents taking no further care of them, though they may remain for 

 some weeks in the same locality. Bosc says he once captured several young 

 Alligators and preserved them for a time, and that there only food was insects, 

 and to them they were not attracted unless they were in motion: I have never 

 seen Alligators take any food whatever in confinement. 



In the spring of the year and early summer months, and during the time of 

 incubation, and especially on cloudy days or in the evening. Alligators make a 

 great noise; their croak is not unUke that of the bull-frog, but louder and less 

 prolonged; Bartram compares it to distant thunder! 



On the approach of winter, these animals seek out holes in the earth, where 

 they remain torpid until spring, or until the warmth of the weather excites them 

 again to life and activity. In this state of hibernation, many are dug out of their 

 retreats by the slaves, who esteem the tail as an article of food, and which, 

 indeed, is tolerable. 



GEOGRAPfflCAL DISTRIBUTION. The Alligator is first observed on the Atlantic 

 border of the United States at the mouth of the Neus river, in North Carolina; 

 those that are occasionally seen farther north, must be considered as stragglers 

 rather than permanent residents. From this point they abound near the mouths 



