THE ALLIGATOR'S LIFE HISTORY 25 



CHAPTER II 

 HABITAT, DENS AND HIBERNATION 



The habitat of the alligator in Louisiana was, until about 

 thirty-five years ago, all the lowlands of the State. They 

 were to be found in all considerable areas of fresh, brack- 

 ish, and salt water marshes, and fresh water swamps from 

 the Gulf to the State's northern border, and in years past 

 were one of the most picturesque features of our lakes, 

 rivers and bayous. They have, beginning about forty-five 

 years ago, been hunted so relentlessly for their skins that 

 they are now greatly reduced in numbers, and in many 

 areas where they were formerly abundant, are now exter- 

 minated. Their natural habitat is water; and although 

 they make long journeys over land, and can live for months 

 without water, they are not happy away from it. In water 

 they are quick and graceful and at home. On land they 

 are heavy and awkward and can move only slowly. A child 

 can walk faster than an alligator can run on land, but in 

 the water they can move, for short distances, at least, with 

 great speed, over-taking easily anything that swims, except 

 the swiftest fish. They prefer shallow water to deep water, 

 and in the overflow sections of the State they often pass 

 their entire life away from any permanent body of water. 



Many of the Louisiana swamps, which are covered with 

 water for a few months by the annual spring rise of the 

 Mississippi River and its tributaries are practically dry for 

 the rest of the year. In such locations alligators dig con- 

 siderable holes, sometimes four to six feet in depth and 

 with surface openings ten feet or more across. These holes 

 are connected with underground dens which they have dug 

 out, sometimes as much as forty feet long; into which they 



