The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-09-03
sh. Alligator at Home.

We lad drorpei tie san, and landed to
make luncheon, beng little after the
hour Of noon. While seated upon project
ing point II the ri.er's bank, with reach
II clear water before u, We saw an alliga-
fsr swimming along gently, the spinal
portion If its body above the surface Of
ITO water 1t vas one Of large size,
though not Of the largest ye bad seen.
A. far as re could judge, it was full four
teen feet in length. With propertionatc
thickness. 1t WAS not rs great bulk that
caused Us TO turn our eyes upon it with
il terest, VIC were too well acc u inted with
these saurians to care much about the
sight. The one in question had a peculi
arity attached to in in the shaIo OF a
numerous rctiuue This consisted Of
young brood Of not less than four score in
number, closely following it. They were
evidently the years progeny, ard the old
one heading them was the mother.
The little ones were all of one size,
each about foot in length, and a. like one
another rs a SCHOOL Of mackcrel or herring.
They were nearly black with some mott
lings Of yclowish color giving the hue Of
tortoise shell. As the water was perfectly
.iiripid, We could see every movement made
both by the mother and her numerous
family Of chicks, as clearly as il We had been
fE.t,, fIrnt,-r lat IF
aquarium The old one swan straight on,
passing close to the spot on which We
were seated, and apparently regardless Of
our presence. Her attention taken up Wit.
her young, perhaps she had not seen us or
cur boat. The little creatures followed
her in somewhat extended line, neither
losing nor gaining distance. Nor did they
aITear t. dcylate from one another in the
slightest degree, but maintained their rca
tive positions With as much cxactitude as u
flock of birds in their flight
!" We should have allowed them to 20
nnmolested, but science would not be
cheated Of her chonce. The Naturalist
wished to observe how the old alligator
would act under the circumstance, al If
il was ire that the pr mt when attacked
gives protection to her young by swallow
ing them. TO prove whehcr the strange
story was fact or only fable, bali was
fred, which was seen 20 bit the old one
f.ir On the side Of the skull
The result was not 50 conclusive as We
had wished. The shot seemed to have
produced no more effect than if the bullet
had been boiled pea. The reptile only
gave plunge forward, curled up its thick,
flat tail, and, striking it repeatedly down,
raised u conmution IN TIE water for scyefa,
yards around. Into the space thus much
agitated the young ones suddenly darted,
rs if there seeking protection; but, on ac
count Of the froth now il1ahrg on the sur
face, their movements were no longer
observable; and before the water became
stiil again, parent and progeny had lisap-
peared, having all sunk to depth where
their sombre hue rendered them invisible.
ave shortly aft,r cdmc upon a bre, a.,
place Of these gigantic lizards, containing
Elk separate hillocks, or, as they may be
called, nests. They were Of an obtuse,
conical shape, nearly regular, their tops
rising between three arl four feet above
the ground. They were in a state Of run,
the young having escaped from their eggs,
and only some fragments OF shells remain
ing. On laying open some Of the hGilocks,
however, We found several eggs, added,
which, for some reason unknown to Us,
had remained Unmatched. They were
white, with the surface much winter than
that Of fowls egg, the inequality being
caused by lines or grooves running in ali
directions, aud looking like Chinese char
actcrs, impressed upon the shell when soft.
They were about the size of goose ogss,
though quite different in share, being more
slender aud equally tapored at both ends.
One we measured was over four inches in
length, the sherter axis being about hal
the longer one.
"The alligator selects spot Of dry
ground on which to make its nest, usually
where there is long coarse grass or reeds,
and near the waters edge. 1t proceeds by
spreading compost over the surfacc sew
eral inches in thickness. Ii is a mixture
Ct mud, grass and tie leaves and stalks OF
herbaccous plants. On tits she deposits
-for it is the female that builds the nest
layer OF eggs, and covers them over with
thick stratum Of tue same compost.
Then a second layer Of eggs is yoided and
spread over the platform. These are also
covered in like manner. On the top more
EGGS ere placed till the laying is complete,
when all received further coat Of the
mixed earth and vegetable matter.
"The heat, generated by the iermcntl
tion of the latter, is supposed TO assist the
sun in the incubation. Over q hundred
ergs will be found in an alliGator's nest, !
but whether all the product OF Que female /
is question. During the breeding season F.
tile old ones are exceedingly savage, espe /
cial'y in the pe'ghber hood Of their nests.
A large alligator lying upon thu sur
face may easily be mistaken for floating
log. and is often compared to this. The
rhomboi3al urotaberanc5, somewhat re
stmblins the corrugated LAX Of tree,
heir 70 htigh,en The similarity. Often an I
alligator is seen thickly coated over With !
mud, and mol upfrcquently with grass and
aquatic plants aaAering to il. The mud
con es from the animal waiioHiEs IN 1t, .
While the vegetable substance Heating (
about get caught in it and there main, the /
hugh reptile seeming not to regard the
ineumbrances. Birds Of several species
nay 9ften be SEGA perehcd upon an a.lisa
.ars farsal rii2c, looking As little concern
ss froosting on the limb Of . tree.
y barber has Teen driven out Of pu-