NOISES MADE BY ALLIGATORS. 163 



which they raise almost perpendicular, so as to form 

 a right angle with the lower one. In the fore part of 

 the upper jaw, on each side, just under the nostrils, 

 are two very large, thick, strong teeth or tusks, not 

 very sharp, but rather the shape of a cone; these are 

 as white as the finest polished ivory, and are not cov- 

 ered by any skin or lips, and always in sight, which 

 gives the creature a frightful appearance. In the 

 lower jaw are holes opposite to these teeth, to re- 

 ceive them. When they clap their jaws together it 

 causes a surprising noise, like that which is made by 

 forcing a heavy plank with violence upon the ground, 

 and may be heard at a great distance. 



"But what is more surprising to a stranger is the in- 

 credible loud and terrifying roar which they are 

 capable of making, especially in the spring season, 

 their breeding time. It most resembles very heavy 

 distant thunder, not only shaking the air and waters, 

 but causing the earth to tremble ; and when hundreds 

 and thousands are roaring at the same time, you can 

 scarcely be persuaded but that the whole globe is vio- 

 lently and dangerously agitated."* 



The hogs belonging to the natives of this portion of 

 Florida are marked and then allowed to run wild. 

 They feed on pine nuts and other mast ; on roots and 

 on many forms of animal life, as water-dogs, mud 

 eels, mollusks, etc., found about the wet hammocks. 

 All cultivated land is, therefore, of necessity, fenced. 



* Travels in N. America, 1793, pp. 124 et. seq. 



