NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK HOLLISTER. 689 



ably weighed nearl}' 400 pounds. The Duncan Islnnd tortoise {T. 

 efhiyinuiii) is somewhat smaller. 



In the pine barrens of the Southern States, a comparatively large 

 tortoise, curious for its burrowing habits, is known as the gopher. 

 This species {Gojjherus polyphenvus) grows to a length of 15 inches 

 and a specimen almost of that size from peninsular Florida is on 

 exhibition. Like the giant tortoises this species is herbivorous and 

 is particularly fond of fruits of various kinds. Belated species are 

 found in the arid regions of the Southwest, and in other parts of 

 the world. 



The common eastern tortoise or box turtle {Terrapene Carolina) is 

 found wild within the park. It it a smaller species than the gopher 

 and the plastron or lower shell is so hinged as to permit the animal 

 when alarmed to close itself completely within its armor. A western 

 species {T. omata) is also shown. 



Specimens of the common native snapping turtle are sometimes 

 captured within the park. One of these reptiles caused considerable 

 damage among the waterfowl in the beaver pond before he was 

 finally caught by the keepers. 



ALLIGATORS. 



The common alligator of the Southern States {Alligator mhsis- 

 sippiensis) is well known to a large proportion of our people ; thou- 

 sands of the young have been carried b}" tourists from Florida to all 

 parts of the United States. The species fonnerly was abundant in 

 fresh-water streams and swamps throughout its range — north to 

 North Carolina and west through the humid portions of Texas. 

 In all of the more accessible and settled portions this reptile has 

 suffered greatly from hunters, professional and amateur; and in 

 most parts of its former range it is now a rare thing to see an alli- 

 gator of any size. In some of the streams and swamps of the wilder 

 places within the Gulf States, however, it is still possible to find 

 alligators from 6 to 8 or 9 feet in length ; but the 10 to 16 foot rep- 

 tiles are practically gone. 



The nest of the alligator has frequently been described to me by 

 old residents in Florida as resembling the nests made by the wild 

 "razorback" hogs of that country. It is a great mound of muck, 

 grass, moss, and sticks; placed in a retired spot, and is said some- 

 times to be carefully guarded by the female. The numerous eggs 

 are hatched by heat generated by the rotting vegetation. On very 

 good authority it is stated that the Florida alligator deposits its 

 eggs in the sand where they are hatched by the heat of the sun. In 

 some portions of the State this is doubtless the case, but the building 

 of the nest of vegetation is the common habit in localities with which 



