THE ALLIGATOR'S LIFE HISTORY 



113 



light and with a heavy wire noose on the end of a stiff bam- 

 boo pole. 



The following data gives an accurate record of their 

 growth and proves conclusively one thing that alligators, 

 under normal conditions in the wild, grow much more rap- 

 idly than is generally supposed, and that both males and 

 females average a little more than one foot increase in 

 length per year up to and including the fifth year, and this 

 increase in length-growth is continued by the males at least 

 to the ninth year, but after the fifth year the females in- 

 crease in length much more slowly. 



These alligators whose age, weights and measurements 

 are here recorded, were liberated at or near the place from 

 which they were caught up to August 26, 1927; those re- 

 corded on that date and thereafter were killed, except the 

 female taken June 23, 1931, who was liberated to guard 

 her nest. 



DATE 



ig. 22, 1921 



pt. 20, 1921 



ne 17, 1922 



ig. 22, 1922 



>v. 8, 1922 



I 44 44 



( 44 44 



>ril 12, 1923 



ay 2, 1923 



( 44 44 



( 44 44 



Pt. 10, 1923 



jril 13, 1924 



( 44 M 



4 44 41 



4 44 M 



4 44 44 



ct. 3, 1924 



4 44 4< 



LENGTH 



9 to 9X in. 

 1354 to 1454 in. 



WEIGHT 



to 3 oza. 



REMARKS 



^ Of the 42 young hatched, 38 were 

 liberated with their mother after 

 being marked 



Eight young were measured to- 

 day. 



Very thin, 16 leeches in mouth. 



