58 



LORICATA. CROCODILID^. 



five or six inches in length, and the female Alli- 

 gator at once leads them to the water. In gene- 

 ral at least half the brood perish before they 

 reach the water ; many while yet in the egg ; 

 some through the depredations of vultures, who 

 watch the female Alligator when she repairs to 

 the shore to lay; others are devoured by the adult 

 males of their own species, and yet more by the 



ALLIGATOR. 



ravenous fishes and turtles that inhabit the same 

 waters. Both the egg's and the flesh of these 

 reptiles are eaten, though they difi*use a strong 

 musky odour ; some Europeans, however, have so 

 far overcome their prejudices as to pronounce 

 them savoury and agreeable. 



