A FIGHT. 311 



buffalo and the alligator ; but as the native rajahs in 

 the East Indies have combats between wild oxen and 

 crocodiles — in which the former are generally victorious, 

 goring their enemy to death — I fancy there can be 

 little doubt as to the result of a conflict between the 

 Crocodilus Lucius and the fierce American wild bull. 



A Southern gentleman, who was once an eye-witness of 

 an encounter between a black bear and an alligator, has 

 given the following vivid description of the combat : — 



' While fishino' on the banks of a beautiful stream in 

 Western Louisiana, I was startled by the roaring of 

 some animals in the cane-brake close by, who were 

 apparently getting ready for action. These notes of 

 warlike preparations were succeeded by the sound of 

 feet trampling down the canes, and scattering the shells 

 on the ground. 



'Kushingto the trysting-place, or field of battle, there, 

 instead of being, as was supposed, two prairie bulls, 

 mixing impetuously in the fray was a large black bear 

 raised upon his hind legs, his face besmeared with white 

 foam, sprinkled with blood, which, dropping from his 

 mouth, rolled down his shaggy breast. On a bank of 

 snow-white shells, in battle array, was bruin's foe — a 

 huge allio-ator. 



' He appeared as if he had just been dipped in the 

 Teche, and had emerged like Achilles from the Styx, 

 with an invulnerable coat of mail. He was standing on 

 tiptoe, his back curved upwards, and his mouth — where 



