GROWTH OF THE ALLIGATOR. 

 By RAYMOND L. DITMARS, 



CURATOR OF REPTILES. 



I? OR an indefinite time, many authors of natural history 

 essays have insisted that tortoises and crocodihans 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 

 crocodihans grow at a tardy rate as compared with representatives 

 of the other orders. \Miile 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 crocodihans. using as a subject of 

 our observations the American Alligator, (Alligator inississippien- 

 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 



