Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-08-20


of these are: Billy Bowlegs, Jack Bus
ter, Doctor Jimmie. John Osceola,
Coffee Tiger, Cypress Tiger, Billy
Conapatchee, Miami Jimmy, Tommie
Listen, Jack Tigertail, Doctor Tiger,
Billy Harvey and Frank Jumper.
Perhaps nc reptile is better known
to the average American than the al
lgator, owing to its frequent appear.
ance in museums and in the hands of i,
amateur biologists, but with all this
out little is known of it's habits in the
wild state.
Enjoy Sun Baths.
AS the alligator is most active at
night, its days are usually spent lying
on some low bank or leg overhangins
the water, where it can enjoy the
warmth of the sun and be able to re-
treat to its native element at the first
sign of danger. While on land they
are very clumsy, in the water they are
exceedingly active, and being strong
swimmers are able to catch the larger
fish with but slight trouble. Fer ami.
mails like the muskrat and otter swim
ming across lagoons they are always
on the watch. On seizing its prey the
animal sinks with it to the bottom,
and there remains until all struggling
has ceased. 1t is then able with less
trouble to tear it to pieces. While
thus submerged a peculiar collar at the
base of the tongue prevents the watu
from passing into the lungs, and the
alligator may even cCme to the surfa,e
and breathe without letting so its hold
on its prey. While the alligator is
said to make very effective use of its
tail in warfare, the widely dissent
mated story that it uses it's tail to
sweep animals off the banks into it's
jaws appears to have but slight foun.
dation When captured the animal
proves a most disagreeable companion,
as it emits most unpleasant odor of
musk, which is almost unbearable.
In the breeding season alligators are
very noisy and below with thunderlike
power. The maternal alligator IN
April or May seeks a sheltered spot on
bank and there build a small mound
with hole in the center. The foun-
dation of this mound is of mud and
grass and On these she lays some eggs.
She then covers the eggs with another
stratum of grass and mud, upon which
she deposits some more eggs. Thus
she proceeds until she has laid from
twenty-five to sixty eggs.
Hatched by the Sun.
The eggs are Matched out by the sun,
assisted by the heat which the decom-
position of the vegetable material of
which the nest is composed generates.
AS soon as they have Clipped the
shell" the baby alligators are led to
the water by the mother, who provides
them with food, which she disgorges.
Papa Alligator has to be carefully
watched at this time, for he highly
esteems dinner Of young saurians
and is not particular whether they are
his own or his neighbours children.
When by strategy or downright fight
ing the mother has got her family
safely into their natural element it is
not long before the young scatter,
each to begin life on his or her own
hook. At this period they form a IA
vorte food for turtles and the larger
fishes. The hunters claim that some |
Of the females lay twice a year.
When fully grown the alligator is
about sixteen feet in length. In the
adult stage it is greenish- black above,
having lost the yellowish color bands
hat belong to its earlier years. We
Ire completely dependent on the state
nents of hunters as to it's rate of
growth According to them they
row very sowly, attaining the first
ear length of about one foot. When
Nvo feet in length they are said to be
rom 10 to Is years old, while those
welve feet long are supposed to be
5 years old or more. Their normal
ge is estimated at from 100 to $50
ears.
Alligator-hunting originally began as
port and it was not until someone tan
ed the skin and found that 1t could be
ut to commercial use that the ami {
lal was considered from a financial
tandpoint. Carried on, as it must
e, at night, owing to the animal sleep
1g in the daytime, the hunter is very
Picturesque. In many places the hunt
RS fasten bicycle lamps on their caps
nd when the animal is attracted by :
lie light, pick it off by hitting it in the /,
we with a rifle ball Torches are =
ute generally used. Sometimes the :
nimal is called 70 the surface by the
unter initiating the noise made by a
Dung alligator, which is similar to ;
Re grunt Of a pig, but much fainter. !
In catching them alive they are fire.
1ently lassCed while asleep On the
aDk or on a log. When asleep In
ieir holes in the mud they are oc-
isionally drawp out by means Of an
On hook. These holes are easily !
,und, as the animal cuts the grass all
round them, while the trail from the
alter through the long grass is easily
'llowed. Sometimes the grass is set !