ALLIGATOES FISHINa. 303 



of the body, not being of greater thickness than the 

 arm of a boy ten years of age. They can be easily 

 held, so that the animal cannot withdraw them from 

 the grasp ; and thus no very great stretch of imagina- 

 tion is required to believe the story, in which a man 

 is represented as mounted on the back of an alligator, 

 and using, as a bridle, the two forelegs, which he had 

 drawn up over the reptile's back. 



The principal food of the alligator is fish, of which 

 they devour thousands. In catching their food, the 

 tail is a great adjunct to the mouth. The body of 

 the alligator being placed in the proper position, at 

 a suitable distance from the shore, assumes a curved 

 form when the fish have come between him and the 

 land, while the tail is run aground, and the huge jaws 

 are opened under water. The only chance of escape for 

 the poor fish is to run the gauntlet of that fearful 

 mouth — a very poor chance indeed, for few have the 

 good luck to get away. 



If any animal, which the alligator seeks for prey, 

 happens to be standing on the banks of the river or 

 pond which it inhabits, the reptile will at once swim 

 noiselessly towards it, occasionally bringing its head 

 above the surface, to make sure that the victim has 

 not been alarmed. When within strikinof distance it 

 will suddenly rise, and, whirling round its tail with 

 lightning velocity, it seldom, if ever, fails to bring the 

 victim within reach of the wide jaws. 



