ALLIGATORS AND CROCODILES. 



67 



are extremely small. Larger than that, the}^ are sometimes inclined 

 to be ugly and their small teeth cut sharply. 



Years ago the alligator was very destructive to dogs. Young 

 dogs which went down to the rivers to drink often did not return, 

 and the howling of a dog would instantly bring to the surface any 

 alligator which might be within hearing distance. Hunting dogs 

 while swimming 

 streams and ponds 

 were often killed 

 or badly bitten bv 

 these animals ; but 

 at present so few 

 of the large ones 

 are left, and they 

 have become s o 

 shy, that it is a 

 rare thing to hear 

 of dogs being in- 

 jured by them. 



The alligator is 

 often found on land 

 some distance from 

 water ; in such 

 cases it is well to ^^^ ^^,,^ 



keep away from its 



tail, as it strikes with great power and is capable of doing con- 

 siderable injuiy. The danger from this is probablv exaggerated. 



One method of hunting alligators which is quite commonly prac- 

 tised is to pull them out of their holes under the banks of the rivers 

 and on the borders of the ponds. When the water gets low enough 

 at certain seasons of the year these holes may be found, and by in- 

 vestigating them with the aid of a long pole, if the alligator is at 

 home he will soon give signs of life, usually grunting and moving 

 about. Oftentimes he will savagely bite the end of the pole when 

 it touches him. A large hook, resembling a shark hook, is attached 



