ALLIGATOR KILLING. 185 



intruder, in lii.s original domaiii — and under such cir- 

 cumstances only, does he become an object of rough 

 sport, the incidents of which deserve a passing notice. 



The extreme southern portions of the United States 

 are exceedingly favorable to the growtli of the alligatitr: 

 in the .swanip.s that stretch over a vast extent of coun- 

 try, inaccessible almost to man, they increase in num- 

 bers and size, live undisputed monarchs of their abodes, 

 exhibiting but little more intelligence, and exerting but 

 little more volition than decayed trunks of trees, for 

 which they are not unfreijuently mistaken. 



In these swampy regions, however, are found high 

 ridges of land mviting cultivation. The log cabin takes 

 the place of the rank vegetation— the evidences of thrift 

 appear — and as the running streams display themselves, 

 and are cleared for navigation, that old settler, the alli- 

 gator, becomes exposed, and falls a victim to the rapa- 

 city of man. 



Thus hunted — like creatures of higher organization, 

 he grows more intelligent, from the dangers of his situ- 

 ation ; his instincts become more subtle, and he wars in 

 turn upon his only enemy ; soon acquires a civilized taste 

 for pork and poultry, and acquires also a very uncivil- 

 ized one for dogs. 



An alligator, in the truly savage state, is a very 

 hapj»y reptile : encased in an armor as impenetrable as 

 that of Ajax, he moves about, unharmed by surround- 

 ing circumstances. 



