ALLIGATORS OF LOUISIANA AND TEXAS. 271 



covers with reeds and mud, and builds up over the 

 centre a cone of puddled clay, which is so strong 

 that you may walk upon it without breaking it. 

 These eggs take about thirty or forty days to hatch 

 out, and during the process of incubation, the female 

 never quits her nest except to seek for food. At 

 this time she is very dangerous to whoever interferes 

 with her. As soon as the eggs are hatched, the 

 young caymans sport about as lively as lizards, 

 and their mother cleans them by licking them 

 with her rough and scaly tongue. Alligators seek 

 their food only at night, and they are most fond 

 of turtles, tortoises, frogs, birds and young peccaries. 

 They will hunt after these when they come to 

 drink at the banks frequented by alligators. In the 

 water, the alligator is agile enough ; but on land, his 

 short legs refuse to support his long tail and heavy 

 body. He drags himself along, therefore, rather than 

 walks, and his tail ploughs up a long furrow in the 

 mud as he goes. The alligator when in the water 

 and in the middle of a lake or river, has no fear. 

 He can dive and make his escape as he pleases ; but 

 on shore, directly he hears the slightest warning of 

 attack, whether from man or beast, he makes to- 

 wards the water and, when pressed closely, crouches 

 upon the ground and remains perfectly motionless. 

 If the enemy approaches, he seems to pluck up a 

 courage and to show fight, and when thus seen, with 

 his jaws furnished with a double row of sharp teeth 



