ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 53 
October, 1900—Hatched...... Weight 134 ounces. 
October, TOO. oi Ge erasre 3. Rs 14 ounces. 
(AMIS UGE SLOO2 ching ctepetet ouctaiaee = cL Sues pounds: 
Ma rClis TOO Faye ate shaste chacictew s peas i 
Octobers-1OOOs Se ak Sis b 5% eed 7 250 .: 
By combining his notes on three series of alligators, the writer 
is enabled to prepare the following table, showing the rate of 
growth of the Alligator as he has observed it: 
GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR. 
ING (iene Or INeyeeNS Seo conc 8 inches. Weight, 134 ounces. 
PMtEONE YEA sn icnitis: Stes esi ee 1 foot 6 inches. 
NAL Wi Oley CAlSarer. otters ieee oie 2 feet 2 inches. 
PNtathinees wyGanse eis. tvccante ce siete: 3 feet 1 inch. 
Ate fOUn Veans, 3. cence see ess 4 feet — inches. 
AN efIViSe WCAUSL toiexsers cists ceteiels iets 4 feet Io inches. 
INtESINE ViCALS Meh cocuine oe ae 5 feet 4 inches. Weight, 50 pounds. 
INTE SSEV EMI CATS eater reciyetinere 6 feet 2 inches. (Maturity.) 
IAtHeIgShteyCarsS: ty. cjecu)siseieieleo 6 feet 11 inches. 
ING MMINE WATS) cenciemte alse iis cele 8 feet 2 inches. 
INE IS eer nS aa ea oor SE ee 9 feet 3 inches. 
INimeleveninyicanstessie cic iciaoe 10 feet II inches. 
JANE TRANS WEARS ceicicodcecca06t 11 feet 3 inches. 
At=thinteens years assem es see ce II feet 5 inches. 
ANE TOWER WEES soccso0esace It teet ‘Siinches: 
ANE smniKXSA WEIS. 4goocdaso0DDbe 12 feet. Estimated weight, 650 
pounds. 
It appears that after an alligator attains the patriarchal size of 
eleven feet, its growth is much slower. However, with an exam- 
ple living under favorable conditions, there is a steady increase, 
the limit of growth appearing to be about fourteen feet. “Old 
Mose,” a fine specimen, was twelve feet long when received at 
the Reptile House in 1899. In July, 1903, he had increased in 
length to twelve feet five inches. When measured in 1906, he 
showed a length of twelve feet seven inches. 
Two six-foot alligators have been in the Reptile House 
for over seven years. They have made absolutely no increase in 
size. Four years ago, one of them deposited a number of eggs. 
A curious example has been under the writer’s observation for 
over fifteen years. This specimen was, years ago, kept in a small 
tank in the writer’s study. The accommodations were not suit- 
