TORTOISES. 
259 
where he caught a young alligator. This animal he made so 
perfectly tame that it followed him about the house like a dog, 
scrambling up the stairs after him, and showing much affection 
and docility. Its great favourite, however, was a cat, and the 
friendship was mutual. When the cat was reposing herself 
before the fire (this was at New York), the alligator would lay 
himself down, place his head upon the cat, and in this attitude 
go to sleep. If the cat was absent the alligator was restless ; 
but he always appeared happy when the cat was near him. The 
only instance in which he showed any ferocity was in attacking 
a fox, which was tied up in the yard. Probably, however, the 
fox resented some playful advances which the other had made, 
and thus called forth the anger of the alligator. In attacking 
the fox he did not make use of his mouth, but beat him with so 
much severity with his tail, that, had not the chain which con- 
fined the fox broken, he would probably have killed him. The 
alligator was fed on raw flesh, and sometimes with milk, for 
which he showed a great fondness. In cold weather he was 
shut up in a box, with wool in it ; but, having been forgotten 
one frosty night, he was found dead in the morning. This is 
not, I believe, a solitary instance of amphibia becoming tame, 
and showing a fondness for those who have been, kind to them. 
Blumenbach mentions that crocodiles have been tamed ; and 
two instances have occurred under my own observation of toads 
knowing their benefactors, and coming to meet them with con- 
siderable alacrity. 
With regard to the higher intelligence of reptiles, I 
may quote the following instances. 
Three or four different correspondents tell me of cases 
which they have themselves observed, of snakes and 
tortoises unmistakably distinguishing persons. In one of 
these cases the tortoise would come to the call of the 
favoured person, and when it came would manifest its 
affection by tapping the boot of this person with its mouth; 
6 but it would not answer anyone else . 5 A separation of 
some weeks did not affect the memory of this tortoise for 
his friend . 1 
1 The tortoise which has gained such immortal celebrity by having 
r allen under the observation of the author of the Natural History oj 
SeAborne, likewise distinguished persons in this w T ay. For ‘whenever 
the good old lady came in sight, who had waited on it for more than 
thirty years, it always hob b led with awkward alacrity towards its 
benefactress, whilst to strangers it was altogether inattentive.’ 
