404 NATURAL HISTORY. 



Family II. Alligatoriche. (Lat. a binder. Alligator-kind.) 



Mississipensis (Lat. of the Misnis.tipi), the Alligator. 



be swallowed entire, the Alligator conceals it in some hole in 

 the bank until it begins to putrefy, when it is dragged out, 

 and devoured under the concealment of the rank herbage 

 fringing the river. 



The usual method of taking this creature is by baiting a 

 most formidable four-pointed hook, and suffering it to float 

 in the river. When an alligator has swallowed it, he is 

 hauled on shore by the rope, and slaughtered. "Waterton 

 gives a very amusing account of catching a cayman. Tho 

 reptile had swallowed the hook, and was being towed ashore. 

 Waterton was waiting for him, armed with the mast of the boat 

 to force it down the throat of the cayman should he prove 

 restive. " By this time the cayman was within two yards of 

 me : I saw he was in a state of fear and perturbation. I in' 

 stantly dropped the mast, sprang up. and jumped on his back 



