Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1890 — A Nest of Alligator Eggs. [ARTICLE]

A Nest of Alligator Eggs.

I was walking through some thick paimettoes bordering a Cyprus swamp, and came across a curious, conical pile of earth and sticks; it was about 3 feet in height and the same in diameter at its base. I dug into it at once, believing it to be an alligator's nest, and unearthed twenty eggs. They were pure white, and about the sizeol goose eggs, but somewhat different in shape, both ends being rounded alike. Wishing to see if they would hatch out I carried them home and pluced them in a pile of earth and sticks resembling the genuine nest Around it I built a pen of boards, so tbe young could not get away should the eggs hatch. Inside the pen a trough containing water was placed, sunk level with the ground. One morning, about three weeks after, I visited the nest and was pleased to hear a number of small voices; there on the top of the nest and in the trough of water, were several little ’gators, not over 5 inches in length. Nearly all the eggs were finally hatched out I kept tbe little fellows about a year, and became quite attached to them. 1 could take them in my hands and caress them without any resistance on thoir part; in fact they seemed to like it When I went out to see them after being absent some time, they would come crawling up tc . the side of tbe pen at my oalL 1 never knew them to eat a particle of. any* thing during tbe tine that I kepi them. I finally put them in a swamp tn shift fny thomaftlVftft. ' ■---* -V ,- - I