New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-21
TIE PASSING or THE ALLIGATOR.

The gradual disappearance of the United
States alligator from the waters 1t has hitherto
inhabited is not lamentable as that OF the
buffalo or the Pribylov seal. but II Is not with
out its nournful and sentimental aspects. The
interest felt in an animal OF 50 little decision OF
charao ter that 1t cannot even choose single ele-
ment to live In. but in a vacating. rresoute
manner occupies two at the same time. must. IN
the nature ofthngs be rather forced and artificial
1t is, moreover. quite destitute OF any rhythmic
grace OF movement such as might tend to cap
tvate admiration. in spite Of its other defects
Nothing favorable in this respect Is to be said OF
an animal that on land takes an eight-acre lot
IIto turn around In. and In the water presents
10 view only system OF protuberances, In low
relief, with no visible chain Of connection. When
1t is added to this that its upper Jaw IL hung on
a hinge like the lid of q Saratoga trunk and
that the lower Is an mmOvable extension
OF its bony syctem, sliding level with the water
like Currituck duckboat, It Is easy to see that
the mourning inspired by It's disappearance will
be but slight and perfunctory. and represent mo-
Borrowing emotion. Its cousin. the crocodile
may shed few tears, but everybody knows that
as a manifestation Of grief the performance Is
as insncere as that Of an heir-at-law or pro-
fessional undertaken. The carpet-bag industry
may also weep little. but 1t Will readily be
understood that the effusion Is only In the way
of business, standing for grief like that OF
Niobe or Rizpah, but being rather the index
Of a sordid feeling connected with the loss OF
trade commodity This amphibious pachyderm
WILL therefore, float unwept and weller to
the parching wind without the NEED OF any
meodious tear beyond the foregoing, and there
will be no memorial display Of fireworks over his
departure.
He VIII. of course be celebrated in treatises on
natural history, and his longitudinal and lateral
arrangement Of bones will be taken apart ana
put together again for display In museums out
the tender and spiritual regret which Is felt
for the vanished Dodo and the Great AUX ana
the North American Bison with other races
which Nature has obterated. bringing to life
and death with equal and saturnian composure'
will not be his He will dangle In memory as
the last link Of chain going back to the
primal flood first parted asunder from the dry
land when his archetype lay floating many
rood upon it's waters Since they were first
rolled on their appointed courses their tripping
tides to wander in wavering morrice beneath
the moon the saurian has been there, ana the
genealogy of the reptile is consequently re-
spectabe. compelling attention to the extinc-
ton OF even a single and somewhat OBSCURE
branch OF the family. OF that which Is now
passing the salient hist orical features are the
unbridled and habitual consumption OF the
smaller examples of pigs and negroes, which
will now tend to abate In the regions IL mas
hitherto inhabited. The spcrtsmef1 VINO are
clearing 1t out Of the FlOridian estuarics ana
the Gulf inlets and the reedy MISSISSIPPI
hayous are really doing mertorious work, ana
when the last one succumbs. rolling Its wrinkied
abdomen to the stars ard yielding It's peltry 10
the final clutch of the leather trade. ant the
artifcer Of the female belt and reticule. the
condition of the Southern tier Of States VIII. be
much improved. Pictoraly and economically
the animal has always beer failure ana the
reedy ooze OF it's riparian pastures may after
its departure nourish fairer and more usefu!
forms Of life. When its time comes 1t will scut-
tie out of the category Of surviving species WIN
out protest or sibilant echo upon the wind 10
whistle II back again.