PONDEROUS REPTILES 211 



covered them would drop down — for these 

 films come from below the eyes — there was 

 no more expression than before. Even with 

 an open mouth an alligator is not more ani- 

 mated for, unlike the wild animals who in 

 moving their tongues indicate in some way or 

 other their state of feelings, the tongue of an 

 alligator is motionless because it is fastened 

 to the bottom of his mouth until nearing the 

 root, and is white and lifeless looking. 



Old Mose recovered completely from the ef- 

 fects of the accident, or attack, and lived for 

 some time afterwards, eventually attaining 

 the length of thirteen feet, but he never re- 

 covered his spirits or his activity, and, when 

 he died a short time ago, Number Two did 

 not seem at all depressed, but is now himself 

 the biggest alligator in the pool, and holds 

 his own much as Old Mose used to do, ex- 

 cept that he is neither a bully nor a nuisance, 

 but an average healthy, well behaved alligator. 



In the Eeptile House in the New York 

 Zoological Park is another reptile which is 

 well worth studying. This is Buster, a giant 



