ALLIGATOR KILLING. 185 
intruder, in his original domain—and under such cir- 
cumstances only, does he become an object of rough 
sport, the incidents of which deserve a passing notice. 
The extreme southern portions of the United States 
are exceedingly favorable to the growth of the alligator : 
in the swamps that stretch over a vast extent of coun- 
try, inaccessible almost to man, they increase in num- 
bers and size, live undisputed monarchs of their abodes, 
exhibiting but little more intelligence, and exerting but 
little more volition than decayed trunks of trees, for 
which they are not unfrequently mistaken. 
In these swampy regions, however, are found high 
ridges of land inviting cultivation. The log cabin takes 
the place of the rank vegetation—the evidences of thrift 
appear—and as the running streams display themselves, 
and are cleared for navigation, that old settler, the alli- 
gator, becomes exposed, and falls a victim to the rapa- 
city of man. 
_ Thus hunted—like creatures of higher organization, 
he grows more intelligent, from the dangers of his situ- 
ation; his instincts become more subtle, and he wars in 
turn upon his only enemy ; soon acquires a civilized taste 
for pork and poultry, and acquires also a very unciyil- 
ized one for dogs. 
An alligator, in the truly savage state, is a very 
happy reptile: encased in an armor as impenetrable as 
that of Ajax, he moves about, unharmed by surround- 
ing circumstances. 
