386 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [voL. 48 
There was more variation in the long diameter of eggs than in 
the short diameter. 
The longest egg of all those measured was 85 mm.; the shortest 
was 65 mm. The widest egg (greatest short diameter) was 50 
mm. ; the narrowest egg (least short diameter) was 38 mm. 
The average long diameter was 73.742 mm.; the average short 
diameter was 42.588 mm. 
The greatest variation in long diameter in any one nest of eggs 
was 15.5 mm.; the greatest variation in short diameter in the eggs 
of any one nest was II mm. 
The average variation in the long diameter of the eggs from the 
same nest was 11.318 mm.; the average variation in the short diam- 
eter of the eggs from the same nest was 5.136 mm. 
It will be seen from the above that the average variation in the 
long diameter of eggs from the same nest is between one-sixth and 
one-seventh of the long diameter of the average egg; while the 
average variation in the short diameter of the eggs from the same 
nest is less than one-eighth of the short diameter of the average egg. 
S. F. Clarke? gives the limits of the long diameter as 50 mm. and 
90 mm., and the maximum and minimum short diameters as 45 mm. 
and 28 mm. No such extremes in size were noticed among the eight 
hundred or more eggs that were examined. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATES 
PATE OV 
Fic. 1.—Jackson Slough; near Lake Kissimmee, Florida. In the vicinity 
of this pond several alligator nests were found, either within a few yards 
of the edge, or on the banks of smaller “holes” which were connected with 
the larger pond by narrow “trails.” 
Fic. 2.—A typical ’gator “hole.” Only a few yards across, and surrounded 
by a dense growth of vegetation. On the far side is seen an opening in the 
surrounding grass and flags where the ground is worn smooth by the alligator 
in crawling out of the hole. Under the bank, probably near the place where 
the alligator “pulls out,” is the deep cave inte which the inhabitant of this 
hole quickly goes on the approach of danger. As this cave may be fifteen 
or twenty feet deep it is not an easy matter to get the animal out. When 
a female alligator inhabits such a hole, a nest may often be found within 
three or four yards of.the water, thoush it is sometimes at a greater dis- 
tance. Such a hole as this may be connected by narrow, winding “trails ” 
with larger ponds, as noted under Fig. I. 
* Journal of Morphology, Vol. V. 
