The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 247 



nearly so brightly colored as our Trionyx 

 spinifer. 



The Common Alligator (Alligator missisip- 

 piensis). While the alligator can hardly be 

 recommended for the aquarium it may be 

 mentioned here, because some amateurs may 

 like to keep one or more specimens in a sep- 

 arate tank, or together with turtles, which 

 are well protected against their attacks. To 

 keep them successfully, a dry place of good 

 size must be provided, so that they can easily 

 leave the water to bask in the sun. Only 

 the smallest size of alligator should be kept ; 

 and as they are about 8 inches long when 

 they leave the egg, they must be very young 

 indeed, to be adapted for close quarters. 

 They are easily kept on small fishes, raw 

 meat cut in small pieces, or earth-worms. 

 Dull in color and intellect, slow and not 

 over graceful in their movements, they 

 hardly invite the observation which most of 

 the inmates of the aquarium well deserve. 



