THE ALLIGATORS. 269 



The Caimans are of two kinds : one is the Rough-backed Caiman,* from Tropical America, ar.d 

 the other the Banded Caiman, from the same region, t They have, unlike the true Alligators, 

 the bony ventral and dorsal scales articulated together. Their smooth eyelids have an internal 

 bony plate, and the cervical scales form an elongated shield. Their head is high, flat at the sides, 

 and angular above. On the side of the neck and body the scales are keeled, but those beneath 

 the body are smooth. In the first species the cervical scales are in five pairs, and the nuchal 

 scales are in a single cross series, whilst in the second the nuchal scales are in two cross series, and 

 the cervical are in three pairs. There are no ridges between the orbits. 



The other group, the Jacares, is numerous in species, and they have much in common with the 

 Caimans as regards their armour and eyelid bone. They all have their orbits united by a bony 

 cross ridge, and the eyelids are striated or rugose. They have the head moderately high, and the 

 cervical scales are in pairs forming a bony shield. 



One kind, called the Black Jacare, J from its black back varied with yellow, attains the length of 

 thirteen feet and more, and inhabits the Amazons near Pera and also Guiana. It has a long head, and 

 the nuchal scales are small and compressed. 



Bates, that thoroughly trustworthy naturalist and geographer, who spent so much time in the in- 

 vestigation of the Natural History of the Amazons and its neighbourhood, gives some personal observa- 

 tions on the Alligators of the river. When at Ega, on the Upper Amazons, he wrote : " Alligators 

 were rather troublesome in the dry season. During these months there was always one or two lying 

 in wait near the bathing-place for anything that might turn up at the edge of the water dog, sheep, 

 pig, child, or drunken Indian. While this visitor was about, every one took extra care whilst bathing. 

 I used to imitate the natives in not advancing far from the bank, and in keeping my eye fixed on that 

 of the monster, which stares with a disgusting leer along the surface of the water, the body being sub- 

 merged to the level of the eyes, the top of the head, with part of the dorsal crest, being the only por- 

 tions visible. When a little motion was perceived in the water behind the reptile's tail, bathers were 

 obliged to beat a quick retreat. I was never threatened myself, but I often saw the crowds of women, and 

 children scared whilst bathing, by the beast making a movement towards them. A general scamper to 

 the shore and peals of laughter were always the result in these cases. The men can always destroy these 

 Alligators when they like to take the trouble to set out with montarias and harpoons for the purpose, 

 but they never do it unless one of the monsters, bolder than usual, puts some one's life in danger. 

 This arouses them, and they track the enemy with the greatest pertinacity. When half killed they drag it 

 ashore and despatch it amid loud execrations. Another, however, is sure to appear some days or weeks 

 afterwards and take the vacant place or the station." But under some circumstances the Jacare nigra, 

 the Jacare-usassii of the Amazonian Indians, is little feared. Thus, when netting the "Turtles" (page 255), 

 which form the staple meat food of the inhabitants, an Alligator was found included, and although the 

 men had jumped into the water to drag and catch the Chelonians, they cared little for a good-sized 

 Alligator, whose jaws, more than a foot long, could have snapped one of their legs in twain. Bates 

 writes : " No one was alarmed, the only fear expressed being that the imprisoned beast would tear 

 the net. First one shouted, ' I have touched his head ! ' then another, ' He has scratched my leg ! ' 

 One of the men, a lanky Miranha, was thrown off his balance, and then there was no end to the 

 laughter and shouting. At last a youth of about fourteen years of age, on my calling to him from the 

 bank to do so, seized the reptile by the tail and held him tightly until, a little resistance being over- 

 come, he was able to bring it ashore. The net was opened, and the boy slowly dragged the dangerous 

 but cowardly beast to land, through muddy water, a distance of about a hundred yards. Meantime I 

 had cut a strong pole from a tree, and as soon as the Alligator was drawn to solid ground, gave him a 

 smart rap with it on the crown of his head, which killed him instantly." The same traveller at one 

 time, when out on an expedition and the heat was very great, found that no one could bathe without 

 being advanced upon by one or other of these hungry monsters. " There was much offal cast into the 

 river, and this, of course, attracted them to the place. One day I amused myself by taking a basketful 

 of fragments of meat beyond the line of ranches, and drawing the Alligators towards me by feeding 

 them. They behaved pretty much as dogs do when fed, catching the bones I threw them in their 



* Alligator trigonatus=Caiman trigcmatus (Gray). t Caiman palpebrosus (Gray). 



t Jacare nigra (Gray) Alligator sclerops (Cuvier). 



177 



