22 CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS 



of the Guianas and Brazil, is the largest, and is said to at- 

 tain a length of 20 feet. (Bates.) The Rough-Backed Cai- 

 man, of the upper Amazon, is said to be quite small only 

 6 feet in length. (H. Gadow.) 



THE ALLIGATOR 1 is so well known it needs no particular 

 description. In individuals over eight years of age, and 10 

 feet in length, the eight yellow bands around the tail prac- 

 tically though not wholly disappear, and from that time on 

 the animal is of a uniform dull black color above, and dirty 

 yellow or white below. I never saw a living specimen larger 

 than "Old Mose" (12 ft. 5 in.), and only one mounted skin 

 which exceeded 14 feet. That one measured 16 feet 3 inches, 

 and is believed to be in a museum in Louisiana. 



The Alligator finds its northern limit in southeastern 

 North Carolina. From thence its range extends southward 

 along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to Cape Sable, the south- 

 ern point of Florida, and westward through the Gulf states 

 to the Rio Grande in southern Texas. Thirty -five years ago 

 this reptile existed in certain portions of its range, especially 

 Florida, in great abundance; but about that time Alligator 

 leather became fashionable, and the demand thus created 

 has reduced the visible supply of Alligators by about 98 per 

 cent. To-day you may travel from Jacksonville to Miami 

 without once seeing the black line upon the water which be- 

 tokens the existence of an Alligator; and an experienced Flor- 

 ida hunter has declared his belief that there is not now living 

 in that state a specimen 12 feet in length. 



The habits of this reptile are quite similar to those of 



1 Al-li-ga'tor miss -13 -sip-pi-en' sis. 



