294 THE ALLIGATOR. 



In many parts of the Southern States men have so far 

 conquered their antipathy towards these reptiles as to 

 tame them, and keep them in confinement. In this semi- 

 domestic state, the beast is said to exhibit more intelli- 

 gence than would be expected from its appearance. 



An alligator was once the cause of a very curious case 

 being tried in New Orleans. A young lady brought an 

 action against a neighbour for keeping an alligator in 

 his yard, asserting that the beast was of extraordinary 

 size and ferocity, that she had frequently occasion to 

 enter his premises, and that, whenever compelled to do 

 so, she was in fear of her life. The defendant, who had 

 been arrested, being required to plead, stated that he 

 kept the animal as a kind of house-dog, or night watch- 

 man, and that, unless provoked, it was a quiet 

 peaceable reptile ; furthermore, that the plaintiff had 

 been in the habit of teasing^ the allio^ator, and exciting 

 his anger by tickling him in the ribs with a long pole, 

 throw^inp' brickbats at him, and on one occasion oroinof 

 so far as to sear his back with a red-hot iron. Upon 

 this, the defendant was discharged, while the lady was 

 bound over to keep the peace towards the alligator and 

 its owner. 



The reporters of the Xew Orleans press do not inform 

 us whether the alligator wept when its back was seared 

 with hot iron ; but we are able to assert, that, although 

 Shakspeare informs us that the 'tears of it are wet,' their 

 lachrymal fountains have been souglit in vain by cruel, 



