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ALLIGATORS. 



Sir Richard Schombergh describes the way in which the 

 alligator seizes its prey. He secured a bird or fish to a piece 

 of wood, and then turned it adrift on the river. No sooner 

 was it seen than a cayman, slowly and cautiously approach- 

 ing — without even rippling the surface of the water — and then 



MOTHER ALLIGATOR DEFENDING HER YOUNG. 



curving its back, hurled its prey by a stroke of its tail into 

 its wide-extended jaws. 



It makes also a loud sound, by clacking its teeth, and lash- 

 ing its tail on the water. It has a voice not readily to be 

 distinguished from that of the animals of the forest. It is 

 similar to a hollow suppressed sigh bursting forth on a sudden, 



