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THE COMMON ALLIGATOR. 
most reptiles as long as their passions are not touched, the Alligator has within it a very mine 
of furious rage, which, when aroused, knows no fear. Urged by a blind instinct that sees no 
obstacles, and hardly deserves so intellectual a name as anger, it flings itself upon the assail- 
ants, and only ceases its attack as its last breath is drawn. 
No easy matter is it to drive the breath out of an Alligator, for its life seems to take 
a separate hold of every fibre in the creature’s body, and though pierced through and through 
with bullets, crushed by heavy blows, and its body converted into a very pin-cushion, spears 
taking the place of the pins, it writhes and twists, and struggles with wondrous strength, 
snapping direfully with its huge jaws, and lashing its muscular tail from side to side with 
such vigor that it takes a bold man to venture within range of that terrible weapon. 
ALLIGATOR. —Alligator mississipiensis . 
It is fortunate for the assailant that its head is not gifted with mobility equal to that 
of the tail. The Alligator can only turn its head very slightly indeed, on account of two bony 
projections, one on each side of the head, which are efficient obstacles to any but the smallest 
lateral motion. The antagonist may therefore easily escape if on land, by springing aside 
before the reptile can turn. He must, however, beware of its tail, for the Alligator when 
angry, sweeps right and left with that powerful member, and deals the most destructive blows 
with wonderful rapidity. Still, the creature would rather avoid than seek a combat, and does 
not act in this fashion until driven to despair. 
In some parts of America they catch the Alligator in a very ingenious manner. An ordi- 
nary hook is said to be of little service against such a quarry, and the natives employ a kind 
of mixture between a hook and grapnel which very effectually answers their purpose. This 
so-called hook is made of four sticks of hard tough wood barbed at each end, slightly carving 
and bound together at one end so as to cause all the upper barbs to radiate from each other. 
