FLORIDA ALLIGATORS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1571, 29 July 1882, Page 6

FLORIDA ALLIGATORS.

The alligators arc mostly of tho ml-cycd species, which aic noted for their .size anil ferocity, and when mot on land arc not much disposed to turn out cf their com sc for anything ; so that not many people caio to meet them in theii lainbles. An immense iellow who Liy about 200 yards from the bhoic allowed us to paddle within 100 feet of him, so that I had a fine view of the vicious eyes and general ugliness.. It was fully two feet from his nostrils to his eyes, and he must have been neaily or quite twelve feet long. A& \\ c approached nearer he settled slowly out of sight, sinking so easily as not to cause ripple upon tlie almost glassy surface of the waters, as he disrajjpoared. It seems that these strange crcatnres arc almost as much at home on land as in the water and, eontary to my previous understanding of their habits, they are frequently found a mile from any body of water, especially to night, when they wander about from one pond or lake to another. They are very destructive of stock, and ai'e especially fond of hogs, and, as all stock nms at largo m this country, they catch great numbers of them. Calves and yearlings I are also a favourite diet of these monsters, and even full-grown cows and steers are frequently pulled into tho lake by them and devoured. Whenever you see a bobtaolid in Florida, which is not infrequently the case near the numerous lakes and ponds, it is safe to presume that she has been wrestling with an alligator and would if she could, "atalo unfold." A gentleman living about two milos from Lodldoosa Lake told mo that on one occasion he wps driving a lot of cattle across a stream that empties into it, when all at once thoy began running and bellowing. Running forward he saw an immenso alligator had seized a fine yearling, not by the tiil but by the body being so large that he had actually grasped the yearlings body in his month as a pig would an ear of corn. Aud althoirgh he could not, of course, raise it from the ground, he did by his weight and the strength of his huge jaws crush it to the earth. The owner of the cattle tried to make the 'gater let go his hold by striking him over the head with the cow whip. Failing in this he rode rapidly back for his gun and was followed on his return by his dog. By this time the 'gator had -released his hold, and the yearling lay in the road nearly dead. Riding up within twenty feet; the gentleman dischargedaheavy load of buckshot at the alligator's head, which only served to jnfurate the brute, and he at once made a rush at the dog. Thereupon the gentleman approached until he could almosi touch the' 'gator with the m'uzzel of his gun and discharged the other barrel at a 'just; back of the shoulder, causing the animal* to 'retreat into 'the bushes,-' arid Jle'yas; found next >'m.p£uurg on'tKS sh6r;e^f.'tuVtliakestifJP' 1 atid dead. j * <He measured fifteM" < fe'efr in' 'length.', , "'-.- r 'w*''?. r / f i ck-' \

lav to a dollar and a half each, green. Over 400 have been killed in Lochloosa Lake alone. Fire hunting at night is the most successful mode of capturing them, if not the safest. Two men and a boat are requited. One paddles while the other has an immense bull's eye lantern fastened on top ot his head, the light of which attracts the ' gators to the surface and blinds them so that the boat can be run right against them. '1 hen the man with the light thrusts the mimel of a heavy calibre rifle within six inches of the "creature's head and fires, immediately proceeding to haul him aboard, to which effortthe 'gatcr lends what strength lie my have left ; his great desire on being mortally hurt is to get out of the water. And if one once feels the boat after being shot he will attempt to climb in himself if not entirely dead. A native alligator hunter whom I met on the bhore of the lake yesterday told me that ho had seen as many as eighty 'gatois at one time during one of the&e night hunts and that lie could hear and feel their no&es "plump" against his boat as they swam rapidly toward the light, their eyes, being too much dazzled to distinguish the boat until they ran against it. On coming so abruptly in contact with the boat's sides they would back off a little distance to investigate. — Buffalo Cowur.