146 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



alligator that appears to indefinitely remain the same size, or to 

 grow at a rate that would require a stupendous period to bring it 

 to maturity, is an individual whose growth has been arrested bv the 

 effects of cold water, and an insufficient depth of that medium for 

 proper exercise. 



In addition to the tepid water of the Reptile House tanks, the 

 high temperature of the building and moist atmosphere, the feed- 

 ing of our crocodilians is a matter regulated with thorough 

 system. It is highly essential that all crocodilians receive plenty 

 of bone nourishment. Beef and fish alone are insufficient to pro- 

 mote rapid growth, or cause the animals to attain a large size. 

 Our freshly hatched crocodilians are first given a diet of earth- 

 worms and minnows. Upon this they are kept for about two 

 months, when dead mice are occasionally given them. As soon 

 as they show an increase in size, the qviantity of food is cor- 

 respondingly increased. Earthworms are then excluded from 

 the menu, while small rodents are given frequently, in alternation 

 with frogs, fish, and scraps of beef. Young rats and sparrows 

 are soon added to the list. 



It will be realized that this food produces good bone develop- 

 ment. Our medium-sized alligators receive small hares, pigeons, 

 and large fish, all of which are entire. This food supply, we are 

 convinced, closely approaches the diet of the wild alligator. The 

 amount of food consumed by our specimens is not nearly so great 

 as might be imagined. Usually they are fed twice a week, and at 

 most three times a week. The average wild alligator should 

 fare fully as well as this. If there is a scarcity of larger food it 

 may always resort to a fish diet, for the waters of the most of the 

 southern bayous usually teem with finny creatures. 



At this point it is well to bring forward the answer to a query 

 that may at once present itself to the reader : How does the 

 growth of captive alligators compare with that of alligators in a 

 wild state? We have already explained that our captive exam- 

 ples have proven their ability to attain maturity in a comparatively 

 brief period, in comparison with the great number of years so 

 generally alleged to be necessary in completing the process. We 

 are moreover quite convinced, when considering our observations 

 of wild alligators and their haunts, that the rate of growth noted 

 in captivity by no means represents a forcing process, and that 

 wild crocodilians actually grow faster than the rate we shall pres- 

 entlv describe in detail. To be more emphatic, the writer would 

 state his belief that alligators occurring even in the northern por- 

 tion of this species habitat, where there is a quite prolonged 



