NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Derivation of the name Voice, &c. 



indeed, many of the American tribes are said to 

 be thereby supported, 



In all probability this animal would never have 

 been known by any other name than that of 

 crocodile, had not the Spanish navigators, on 

 their visiting the New World, of which alligators 

 are inhabitants, remarked their great resemblance 

 to the lizard, and therefore called the first of 

 them which they saw lagarto> or lizard. When 

 the English arrived there, and heard that name, 

 they called the creature a-lagarto, whence the 

 word alligato, or alligator, was afterwards de- 

 rived. 



The voice of this animal is very loud and 

 dreadful, like the roar of a bull ; they have also 

 a very unpleasant and musky scent, so powerful, 

 that Mr. Puges says the effluvia of them from 

 one of the rivers impregnated his provisions, 

 and even gave them the nauseous taste of rotten 

 musk. 



Alligators are often seen floating on the sur- 

 face of the water like logs of wood, and are 

 mistaken for such by various animals, which by 

 this means they surprise, and draw down to de- 

 vour at leisure. They are said also sometimes 

 to form a hole in the bank of a river, below the 

 surface of the water, and there to wait till the 

 fish, that are fatigued with the strong current, 

 come into the smooth water near to rest them- 

 selves, when they immediately seize and devour 

 them ; but since they are not able to obtain 3, 



