The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-30
ABOUT BABY
ALLIGATORS.
They Are Hatched Out In Job
Loisonthe Steam Heated Sand
VERY INTERESTING PROCESS.
After Eggs Are Once Laid tho Mother Has
Nothing More TO DO With the Matter.
Father Is Dangerous.

Jrp in the reptile-house OF the Bronx
ZOO something unique in the way OF a
Matching OF young alligators WAS on ex-
hibition recently. and will be just as long
as the supply of saurian eggs holds out
SAYS the New York Mail anu Express
Ihe young gators were being turheu
out in job lots in a large, glass-inciosed'
steam cheated cage in the northwest cor
ner OF the main reptile-room The hoor
is covered with warm sand in which
several dozens of alligator eggs are cud-
died. The eggs are about seven inches
long. oblong in shape. and of a dingy
yeathery white color.
About the center OF the cage is a large
shallow pan full OF water. sunk into the
level OF the floor. In and about the pan
are several dozen young alligators, from
six inches up TO ten in length. scramblins
about. climbing all over each other.
splashing about I'm the water, ana SEEM
ingly happy and ccntented.
The baby gators are bright blue, green.
and black spotted I'm color. In general
color and appearance they look more like
lizards than anything else
THE MATCHING PROCESS.
The Matching process is quite interest
snr. Every now and then an egg viii be-
Gin to squirm and roll about. one END
works more actively than the other and
swells UP like mushroom head. Then
IL cracks and spreads out from the sit'
through which a little long pointed muz-
zIe begins TO work out.
A LOT OF energetic wriggling. which Hops
the eggs about in all directions, sets the
youngster free. Out he pops, and after "a
shake or two, by some wonderful instinct
of nature away scutties the Infant TO thS
nan of water into watch IL plunges with
out any fear.
Alligator, Jr., splashes about while.
and then Joins his brothers and sisters.
Following the universal alligator habit OF
crawling on top OF as many OF his rela-
tions as he can and resting his head on
the nearest back.
Mrs Alligator was not present at the
Matching Alligator experts say that az
ter she has laid the eggs her part or the
manufacture OF young gators Is finished.
She pays no more attention then TO
them. and confines herself, in the south.
20 living low in the swampe, waiting for
dogs. pigs. or tender young colored In
fants 10 wander her way
AN UNNATURAL FATHER.
As 10 Alligator pere, those same ex-
pcrts assert that IL there is one thing ne
likes better than another IL In young ALI
gators fresh from the she'll without any
Sressine. He IL said TO swallow them up
bv the dozen, and then complain because
there are no more.
The Bronx zoo is well supplied with
grown-up allisators. They have some
very large ones In the reptile-house
ponds. which seem TO do nothing but lie
OH the pond platforms motionless
What the ZOO people intend to do with
she baby alligator output has not been
decided They are not considered "A very
valuabl asset. Possibly any Responsible
parties anxious to bring mp few young
alligators as pets, on guaranteeing kinu
treatment, proper school facilities, ana
sound home training. may he accommo-
dated and given their pick OF the punch.