ALLIGATORS. 509 



punity. These savage saurians are called indiscriminately, 

 though improperly, alligators, crocodiles, and caymans. 



The real alligator is distinguished by having its toes only 

 partly webbed the outer ones being free. It will never 

 willingly seek an encounter, and shows great terror, even, 

 when attacked by dogs. The creatures are often killed by 

 jaguars, who pounce upon them, and with their powerful 

 claws tear out their entrails. But when aroused to anger it 

 blindly attacks all opponents, and is then a truly formidable 

 foe. With a single blow of its tail it can overturn a canoe. 

 The instant it seizes its prey it sinks with it below the sur- 

 face, to devour it at its leisure. It usually feeds on fish, 

 fowl, turtle, or any creature it finds floating on the surface of 

 the water ; but when these fail, it lies concealed among the 

 sedges on the banks, waiting for any land animal which may 

 approach to drink. Sometimes it thus retaliates on the jaguar, 

 and seizing the fierce brute, drags it down below the surface, 

 where it is soon drowned. 



The great alligator usually lays fifty or sixty eggs, rather 

 oblong than oval, and about the size of those of a goose, 

 covering them up with sand, and allowing them to be hatched 

 by the heat of the sun. The mother, however, does not 

 desert her young, but conducts them to the water, and 

 watches over them till their scales have hardened, and their 

 limbs have gained sufficient strength to enable them to take 

 care of themselves. 



Waterton relates an anecdote showing the daring ferocity 

 of the creature when pressed by hunger. It was on the 

 banks of the Orinoco, near the city of Angostura. The tale 

 was told him by the governor of that place. 



" One fine evening, as the people of the city were saunter- 



