76 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



thoroughly aerating the lungs, then with nasal valves 

 firmly closed, lies passive awaiting returning warmth. 



To the observer who is familiar with fair-sized alli- 

 gators, but has never been properly introduced to a 

 crocodile, the writer would say a few words of caution. 

 There is about as much difference in temper and activity 

 between an alligator and a crocodile, as between a tor- 

 toise and a snapping turtle. An enraged alligator will 

 throw its head from side to side, bang the jaws together 

 sonorously and violentlj^ swish the tail, but a man with 

 steady nerves may approach within a few feet of the 

 animal, throw a noose over the head, tie the jaws to- 

 gether, push a pole toward the body — then, by successive 

 nooses pulled backward over the head, and forward over 

 the tail, splint the animal to the pole so it is entirely 

 powerless. On one of a number of occasions, involving 

 transferring alligators, operating upon them and the 

 like, the writer, assisted by one man, in this way com- 

 pletely overpowered a vigorous, twelve-foot example. 

 Throughout the process the big saurian hissed, grunted, 

 snapped from side to side and made swings with his 

 tail that would have knocked a man off his feet — but 

 the animal remained in the same spot. Such proceed- 

 ings would have been abruptly terminated with a croco- 

 dile. The writer well remembers his first acquaintance 

 with a big fellow from Florida. Driven out of the crate 

 the crocodile looked the picture of good nature. Stand- 

 ing away from what he thought to be the reach of his 

 tail, the writer prodded the apparently sluggish brute 

 with a stick to start it for the tank. Several things 

 happened in quick order. With a crescentic twist of the 

 body utterly beyond the power of an alligator, the brute 

 dashed its tail at the writer, landing him such a powerful 

 blow that he was lifted completely from the ground. 



