CROCODILES. 141 



of mechanism which gives way the moment the least strain is felt 

 upon the line ; the tree-point becoming thus released, straightens 

 itself with great velocity, and drags the victim from the water. 



Frequently the alligator, from constant pursuit and interruption, 

 becomes excessively wary and difficult to destroy ; when such is the 

 case, a live bait is sometimes successfully employed. For instance, 

 a dog with a hook tied to his back is taken in a canoe and dropped 

 in the water ; it is seldom the unfortunate cur is permitted to swim 

 far before being seized. 



It is currently believed that Alligators prefer dogs' flesh to all 

 others. The negroes on the plantations in the south-western 

 portion of the United States, frequently lure these reptiles from 

 their hiding-places by imitating the barking of a dog, when a well- 

 directed bullet terminates their career. 



Alligators are very voracious, but, like Serpents and Turtles, they 

 can live a long time without nourishment. In Brown's " Natural 

 History of Jamaica," he asserts that he has known the Caiman to 

 live several months without food. The following experiments have 

 been made in that island : After muzzling a Caiman, it was thrown 

 into a reservoir of water, where it lived several weeks before death 

 supervened. Let us further add that Alligators bred in captivity in 

 the menagerie of Natural History at Paris sometimes live for 

 several months without eating. 



The female Alligator takes more care of her young than the 

 female Crocodile properly so called. She conducts them to the 

 water, and disgorges her half-digested food for their nourishment. 



