BIRD S-EYE GLAKCE AT FLORIDA. 23 



would be turned to one individual, and lie would escape 

 beneath the water, pierced with a dozen balls. They 

 would die in all positions ; some would turn over upon 

 their backs, but of tener they would lie as they had been 

 shot. The most fatal place for a ball to strike appeared 

 to be in the head. The report that a rifle bullet will 

 glance from the back of an alligator is entirely un 

 founded. I have seen them shot in every part of the 

 body, and have yet to meet with a single instance of the 

 kind. The ball always penetrates easily if thrown with 

 ordinary force. Many of these reptiles are destroyed by 

 the passengers of every steamboat which passes up and 

 down the river, yet their numbers are scarcely dimin 

 ished. The alligator grows to a large size, some measur 

 ing seventeen feet in length. The large ones are quite 

 dangerous, but a closely allied species the cayman, of 

 South America, Avhich is occasionally found in Florida 

 is particularly noticable for its fierceness. I have met 

 with it but once. 



Three of us were crossing the country which lies 

 between Lake Harney and Indian river, on foot, when 

 we came to a dense swamp. As we were passing 

 through it we discovered a huge reptile, which resem 

 bled an alligator, lying in a stream just to the right of 

 our path. He was apparently asleep. We approached 

 cautiously within ten rods of him and fired two rifle 

 shots in quick succession. The balls took effect just 

 before his fore leg, and striking within two inches of 

 each other, passed entirely through his body. As soon 

 as he felt the wounds he struggled violently, twisting 

 and writhing, but finally became quiet. We waded in 

 and approached him, as he lay on a bed of green aquatic 



