BEARS AND ALLIGATORS. 159 



killed within a half dozen miles of Ormond during 

 the past winter. I myself have seen the tracks of one 

 crossing the roadway, and have noted where another 

 has clawed open the nest of a ground bee in search 

 of honey. Bennett, one of the natives, says that the 

 bears kill the hogs in the winter time, when other 

 food is scarce, and drive them out of the hammocks. 



The Virginia deer, Qariacus virginianus Bodd., 

 are frequent, and many are killed in season. Wild 

 turkeys are becoming scarce near the settlements and 

 good ones bring $1.00 to $1.25 in the market. Both 

 otter and mink are rather common along Thompson's 

 creek and the Toinoka. Raccoons are also plentiful. 

 However, the skins of these animals bring much less 

 than in the northern states, where the fur on them is 

 far better in quality. 



The taking of alligator skins at one time furnished 

 quite a revenue to the natives of this portion of Flor- 

 ida. Their numbers have diminished greatly in re- 

 cent years, and the former "gator hunter" now has to 

 look to other sources for most of his income. The 

 greater number of those now killed are taken in sum- 

 mer in the swamps and wet hammocks after the water 

 has receded. Only the skin of the lower or under por- 

 tion of the body is saved. This is salted, rolled up and 

 put into a barrel. As soon as the barrel is full it is 

 taken to some railway station or steamer landing for 

 shipment. The skins bring, on an average, but about 

 $1.00 each. 



