The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-09-19
A BUSINESS IN ALLIaAToRs.

To gain ones daily bread by means
OF alligators must be at all times a
fairly preoarious method of existence.
and yet the colored man in Florida
does manage to pick up many an hon
est penny by means of the American
ssurisn. The taxidermist finds, too, in
the alligator his opportunity; and
though ten.foot 'gater never can be |
very desirable, even when stuffed, little |
gators properly prepared and mounted |
are in good demand, and are brought |
nome in quantity by the Northern
tourist.
We need not find fault with nature,
and tax her with having sighted ms in
the crocodileans. If in India there is
the gavial, in Egypt there is the croco-
ollie, and in America the alligator and
cayman. 1t can hardly be questioned
but that we have on this continent
both the crocodile and the alligator
The main point of difference, accord
ing to Mr. Hornaday, between the
crocodile and alligator is as follows:
"a crocodile is distinguished by tri-
angular head, of which the snout is
the apex, narrow muzzle, and canine
teeth in the lower jaw which pass free
ly upward in the notches in the side of
the upper; whereas the alligator (also
cayman and sacre) has a broad fiat
muzzle, and the canine teeth of the
lower jaw fit into sockets in the under
surface of the upper jaw
The business of collecting the skins
OF alligators has already somewhat di-
minished the quantity of these saurisns
in certain parts of Florida, but they
are still to be found in large numbers
further inland. Iii is barely supposahIe
that alligators ever will become extinct
in Florida while those vast interior
lakes and swamps exist. A visit paid
by naturalist this year to Florida
was convincing that alligators were
still very abundant. To kill an ALI
gator, however, lie by no means as diff
cult as TO secure him.
The gators bask in the sun on the
long stretches of sand, but they are
never quite asleep. They always seem
to be on their guard, and repose, never
very far from the water, with their
heads pointing in the direction of
flight.
Gathering eggs requires some skill,
because the saurrian mother has a
clever way of hiding her trail. Some
times as many as forty eggs are found
in nest few inches below the level.
1t is not the invariable habit of the
mother to pack into the nest deeayed
vegetable matter in order to add to
the heat. Generally the warmth oI
the sun is sufficient.
The eggs have a slight musky flavor
and an experiment once made with ar
omelet of alligator eggs suffices. To
eat gator is unknown, and endeavors
in this direction have never been re
peated. Mr.. Hornaday tells, however
of having eaten the South-Americar AZ
variety, where the feed was fish, snt
he declares shat the flesh was white
tender, free from all disagreeabl'
musky odors, and toothsome as thu
incest roast veal"
1t is with due consideration of the
size of the alligator as to whether yol
will take a seat on him or not. Hi
jaws are not 80 much to be dreaded a
q lash Of his tail.
SKY, mass! you no wantee fres' 'gat
or dis mornin'i' is about the cry of tn
vender of baby alligators in Jack son
vile, as he plunges his hand into
bucket swung on one arm, and haul
out little ugly, squirming, snappine
monster. These little gators ma.
have been found by their owner just
emerging from their nests, or he may
have secured them as eggs, and hatch
ed them out himself. The infant saur
ians show their natural instinct early
and will bite at once.
An alligator is queer pet, aud Il
tame an adult seems to be quite impos
sible. If intelligence is proportione'
to bulk of brain, that Of the alligato
is especially small. In disaecting
large-sized alligator the brain sub
stance will barely fill an egg cup. w
are not to look upon gator as cap
able of any attachments. When youn
(after having had some of their teet
DRAWN they are occasionally seen abor
houses.
There are a few native tax dermis
in Florida who devote portion {
their time to the preparation of spec
mems, and notably of little alligator
Generally, however, some one In ii
line of business who lives in Northel
city goes TO Florida for the winter fl
his health, and carries out his callir
by mounting young alligators.-Ha
s,ers WAIKIKI