CINCINNATI ZOO GUIDE 
Alligators 
walking. The alligator is very powerful, and in an attack or 
defense uses its large tail. It approaches its prey in the water by 
swimming silently toward it. It is very careful not to ruffle the 
water. It approaches its prey sidewise, the body and head being 
concealed, and, when certain of its aim, it strikes the object 
with its tail, full force, with the circle toward his jaws. As the 
tail makes the stroke the jaws are opened to their fullest extent 
to receive the object. There are several very large specimens of 
the alligator family in our collection. 
THE FOUNDATION OF THE ZOO 
South of the Alligator Basin is the first cage owned by the 
Zoological Society. It was built by order of Mr. Andrew 
Erkenbrecher in 1868 for the Society of Acclimatization. Inas¬ 
much as the Zoological Society originated from this Society, 
this cage may be regarded as the foundation of our beautiful 
Zoo. The cage is kept neatly painted, and is held in reverence 
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