GROWTH OF THE ALLIGATOR. 
By RAYMOND L. DITMARS, 
CURATOR OF REPTILES. 
OR an indefinite time, many authors of natural history 
essays have insisted that tortoises and crocodilians require 
an amazingly long time to attain full growth and maturity. These 
assertions have, without doubt, been prompted by observations 
made under conditions which positively retarded the natural 
growth of the reptiles. Unfortunately, theory appears to have 
elicited much elaboration in some writings. Particularly plausible 
assertions have been so frequently exploited as to be generally 
quoted nowadays in the best text books. 
There is some solid foundation, however, for the pronounced 
theoretical side of the question, for of all reptiles, tortoises and 
crocodilians grow at a tardy rate as compared with representatives 
of the other orders. While the average lizard or snake attains 
maturity in one or two years, (exclusive of the hibernating season, 
if there be any), a tortoise or crocodilian may require five years 
or more, according to conditions, before reaching the stage that 
might be designated as a young adult. From that point it con- 
tinues to increase steadily in size until it reaches maximum adult 
dimensions. The latter period, embracing a slower growth, may 
cover from five to ten years—possibly more; and the reptile con- 
tinues to survive to a surprising age as compared with lizards 
and snakes. 
The present article has been prepared with two objects in view. 
The first is to correct the erroneous and theoretical impres- 
sions concerning the growth of crocodilians, using as a subject of 
our observations the American Alligator, (Alligator mississtp pien- 
sis). Our second object is to furnish information that may possibly 
be of value to experimenters in alligator culture. There have been 
numerous rumors of alligator farming in the interests of the 
leather trade, but it seems those attempts have always been dis- 
couraged by the idea that the slow growth of the reptiles would 
render success quite impossible. As an illustration of how efforts 
to start alligator farms have been discouraged, we may quote 
