ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



ALASKAN BROWN BKAK. BELLA 

 s bear even to this day is very active and vigorous 

 Gift of William White Niles and J. Baron Niles. 



writer's possession for so long a time he en- 

 deavored, with but little hope of success, to 

 save its life. The intestines were carefully re- 

 placed, and the abdominal laceration sewed up. 

 When the tear on the side had been similarly 

 treated, the creature was placed in a shallow 

 tank of tepid water from which it could not 

 escape. The treatment was as nearly antiseptic 

 as conditions would permit. 



The lacerations rapidly healed, with attend- 

 ant vigorous sloughing. Within ten days the 

 reptile was feeding in normal fashion. More 

 remarkable than the rejJtile's reconstructive en- 

 ergy in healing its great wounds, was the effect, 

 upon its subsequent development. At once it 

 began to grow and at this date it is about eight 

 feet long and weighs approximately one hun- 

 dred and seventy-five pounds. 



Another of our veteran alligators was hatched 

 from an egg in the Reptile House in October. 

 1900. At time of hatching its weight was 

 slightly under two ounces and its length was 



eight inches. At nineteen years of age this 

 specimen is between seven and eight feet long 

 and weighs slightly more than one hundred and 

 fifty pounds. It will probably add but little 

 to this length and weight. Many alligators 

 never attain a length of much over seven or 

 eight feet. These are stunted individuals that 

 have had the misfortune to take up their abode 

 in localities wherein food had become scarce, 

 or presented little variety. Sometimes we find 

 localities where there exist whole colonies made 

 up of stunted members. It is possible to retard 

 the growth of captive specimens by feeding 

 them raw beef only, or a diet composed entirely 

 of small fish, and excluding whole, warm-blood- 

 ed prey, with its attendant bone nourishment. 

 If the process is continued for several years' 

 time with a specimen about half grown, and 

 then a miscellaneous and wholesome diet is sub- 

 stituted, the reptile will grow but little after- 

 ward and perhaps not at all. although it may 

 become sexually mature and vigorous, and breed 

 regularly. 



