290 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITLSH GUIANA 



Few livin<^' alligatoi's are sold. The e<^<4s are *^atliere(l, 

 sorted as to de<>Tee of development, and kept until hatelied 

 in boxes filled with vegetable debi'is. The alligators are 

 confined in tubs of water and within a day or two are killed 

 and stuffed, standino- in a})surd postures, erect on theii" hind 

 le<>s. Forever after they g'aze through shoebutton eves, and 

 hold their little fore arms stiffly out to receive the card tray 

 for which their future destinv intends them. Tourists, with 

 unbelievable eagerness, purchase these atrocities at a shilling 

 each, doubtless to repose beside wax flowers or to share some 

 dusty northern shelf with a conch shell or a sandalwood box. 

 In spite of this the 'gators of Guiana are holding their own. 

 The toll of infants to be metamorphosed into ornaments is 

 less hurtful to the race than the sacrificing of the skins of 

 the adults for satchels. 



