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CHAPTER XII. 



THE ALLIGATOR. — THE CURSE OF NET-FISHING. — AN AL- 

 LIGATOR NETTED. — LASSOING AN ALLIGATOR. — A DOG 

 AND AN ALLIGATOR. ALLIGATOR EGGS. 



T^HE alligator of Central America is dis- 

 tinguished from the crocodile of the East 

 by outward appearance ; but they agree, I 

 believe, in their habits. One distinction is, 

 the formation of the jaws, which are longer, 

 thinner, and narrower in the alligator than 

 in the crocodile, though there is not much to 

 choose in the length and sharpness of their 

 teeth. Another distinction is the comparative 

 softness of the alligator's skin about the throat 

 and lower sides of the neck ; it yields to the 

 thrust of a spear or sword, and is about the 

 consistence of thick buck-skin, the jugular 

 vein running on both sides close beneath it. 



The rivers that during the rainy season 

 are generally violent, impassable torrents, 

 subside during the remaining part of the year 

 into rushing, but shallow streams ; yet, accord- 

 ing to the nature of the river's bed, deep pools 

 are met with at shorter or longer intervals. 



