204 WILD ANIMAL CELEBRITIES 



measured only just about half the length of 

 Old Mose when he arrived at the Eeptile 

 House, and was consequently at a disadvant- 

 age in every way. 



Poor Number Two 's life was a burden. He 

 always kept as far away from old Mose as 

 he possibly could, but, for the first three years, 

 he was persecuted almost day and night. He 

 took it as meekly as an alligator can take 

 anything, and made the best of things seem- 

 ingly by keeping a sharp lookout and getting 

 out of the way whenever he could, but he 

 could have known the meaning of neither rest 

 nor peace. But alligators grow, like all other 

 creatures, and all this time Number Two was 

 growing steadily. It may be of interest to 

 many to hear exactly how much this particu- 

 lar alligator grew each year. 



When Number Two was received at the 

 Reptile House he measured 6 feet, 11 inches. 

 During the first year he grew 1 foot, 3 inches, 

 and so measured 8 feet, 2 inches. During the 

 second year, he grew 1 foot, 1 inch, thus 

 measuring 9 feet, 3 inches; and during the 



