290 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITISH GUIANA 



Few living alligators are sold. The eggs are gathered, 

 sorted as to degree of development, and kept until hatched 

 in boxes filled with vegetable debris. The alligators are 

 confined in tubs of water and within a day or two are killed 

 and stuffed, standing in absurd postures, erect on their hind 

 legs. Forever after they gaze through shoebutton eyes, and 

 hold their little fore arms stiffly out to receive the card tray 

 for which their future destiny intends them. Tourists, with 

 unbelievable eagerness, purchase these atrocities at a shilling 

 each, doubtless to repose beside wax flowers or to share some 

 dusty northern shelf with a conch shell or a sandalwood box. 

 In spite of this the 'gators of Guiana are holding their own. 

 The toll of infants to be metamorphosed into ornaments is 

 less hurtful to the race than the sacrificing of the skins of 

 the adults for satchels. 



