Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-02
SHOOTING ALLIGATORS.

Among the many bayous that wind
in tortuous courses through Tho more
level portion in the Southern States,
particularly those of solely alluvial
formation, and that empty their slug
gish streams into the Mississippi and
tributaries, as well as those that furth-
er Southwest find outlets in the large
and shallow lakes that lie adjacent I
to the Gulf OF Mexico, none are more
noted for their immense number OF
alligators than those of the Attakapas.
Here in great herds they live and
breed, the untrodden marshes afford.
ing them a perfect security against
their greatest enemy, man.
We have in this country no true
crocodiles. The Crocodilus Mississip.
ensis, SO called, is unquestionably n
misnomer, for all the larger saurians
Of North America belong to the
family of the Alligdtoridor.
have had no opportunities Of in
vcstigating personally the species oi
South America, but have reason to
believe, from information, that the
various species are rather under than
overrated. EfW8t 1F
No naturalist has yet conceded to
North America more than one species
of the alligatoride, though five dis.
tinct types are given 10 the "Basin!oi
the Amazon"
II is an easy matter for the envied
few who have made researches in the
swamps and wilds Of South America
to dictatorially make their classifica.
tions, for who can contradict their as
sertions? am satisfied, however,
that the Cdiman A. Mississipensis, un-
der the narrow title of which are
classed the millions of saurians inhab-
iting the lagoons and bayous of the
South, is too restricted q term for o
family presenting, to my own knowl.
edge, two distinct species. I do not
dosire, however, in so limited q space
TO enter into o scientific dissertation,
but invite from fellow naturalists q
correspondence on q subject 90 little
Investigated. Nor will / discuss at
present many of the too visible dis
crcpancies between tho anatomical
descriptions, as given by some Of our
recognized authorities, who have, in
some instances, been guided more by
hearsay than by personal investiga-
ton.
All Of our alligators, as we'll as the
crocodiles of the tropics, are oviparous,
They are are gregarious in their hab.
its, although they do not seem to oct
in concert 10 obtaining their prey, like
the cormorant, that most noted ol
fishers, except the great Northern
loon.
During the Winter season the alli-
gators remain IN o state Of topper
buried generally in the mud OF the
marshes and bayous. The first warm
weather of march restores their sus.
pended vitality, and few may then
be seen summing themselves on logs
and other floating debris. In May,
however, they are in full activity, and
this, perhaps, is the best month tc
study their actions and acquire 0
knowledge Of their habits.
They fish principally during The
night, and lie in the sunshine hal
asleep on the surface Of the water
during the day. A splash in the wa
ter, or any slight noisc in fact, vii
instantly arouse their attention, and
Us their curiosity is great, they will
slowly swim here and therc to ascer
tain the cause Of tho disturbance.
The whine of puppy seems to ex
cite them more than aught eise why
| cannot tell, for IL is equally cfiica
cious where dogs have never previ
ously been and where il were impos
sible to suppose tho alligators bat
ever heard them. The resemblanc,
to the noise or bark Of their young ha
been said to bc a cause but sucl
reasoning is fallacions, as at season.
when their young no longer bark the,
are equally attracted by whine.
Their ferocity and other dangerou
qualities have been very greatly over
rated and exaggerated. That thel
are extremely voracious is unqucstion
ablo but they generally confine thei
rassges TO fisb and other small prey
The narrowing tales Of families beinl
devoured by them are tho "veries
coinage Of the BRAIN" and have Ia re
atty no existence Whatsoever.
Ispeak, let It DO distinctly under
stood, only Of the alligator OF th
Southern Statesj tho crocodilcs Of tn
Nile, % we'll as the gavisls Of India,
have every reason to believe, are TO
tally different from their Americal
cousins, both in size and ferocity.-
Those latter are generally from Nv