108 On the Torpid State of 



as are very abundant in turpentine. I have also been 

 assured, by my friend, Mr. William Bartram, that 

 he has seen a brick-bat, that was taken out of the 

 stomach of an alligator, and that it was worn quite 

 round. 



Mr. Lawson says, that the alligator is not seen to 

 the north of North-Carolina. They are very com- 

 mon at Cape-Fear, in latitude 34. One twelve feet in 

 length has been seen at this place. On the Atlantic 

 side of the United- States, I am not able to trace them 

 farther than the " Alligator Dismal Swamp," which 

 is between Edenton and Newbern, in North- Carolina. 

 The mouth of the Red-River is nearly in latitude 31. 



Within the tract of country just mentioned, the 

 alligator, obeying the influence of the climate, passes 

 into the torpid state. In North- Carolina, this takes 

 place about the middle of November, sooner or later, 

 according to the state of the season. Whether the 

 animal becomes torpid in more southern parts of the 

 continent, I have not been able to learn. On the ri- 

 ver St. John, in East-Florida, they have been seen, 

 awake, even in the middle of winter : but it was re- 

 marked, that they seemed dull, and stupid. It has 

 also been observed, that they are accustomed to fre- 

 quent the warm springs, which are so abundant in 

 this part of the continent ; and that they are fond of 

 lying in these springs. Perhaps, the heat of these 

 springs may be sufficient to prevent them from be- 

 coming torpid. But it must be observed, that a de- 



