He belongs down South, and resides in the same swamp that the copperhead duz. He lives upon raw pig, and don't hesitate tew take them whole, if thare don't happen tew be a smaller one handy. He iz also fond ov a little negro, once in a while, by way ov a fresh. They are amphibicus, and sevral other kinds ov cuss too plenty to menshun. What on earth they are good for, i don't seem to know, unless it iz tew watch for pigs. Their hides kan be tanned into leather, but they are az hard tew skin az a beech tree iz; and the leather, when tanned, iz just about as limber az a cooking-stove. But one pair ov boots, made out ov alligator, will last az long az a man's name duz; the only way tew wear them out iz tew heave them away. Alligator meat iz not luscious. If yu ask for it at the fust-klass hotels, they will alwus tell yu "that they are jist out." It tastes az i should think the beef ov a mule would, who had been worked forty years in a brick-yard, and then been struk with lightning, to git rid ov him. When an alligater's mouth iz wide open, hiz head iz just about in the center ov hiz boddy; but they hav one virtew i came verry near forgitting--they make a verry still noize, altho they hav more jaw than enny other critter i kno ov. These are sum ov the heavyest fakts i hav been able tew gather about the alligater. The alligator seems tew be a second edition ov the krokadile, made out ov what waz left. I think the krokodile usually lays eggs when they want sum more krokadiles, but i don't kno whether i think the alligatur duz or don't; but if they do, and i ever find the nest, and the old feller aint on the nest, i shouldn't hesitate tew hatch out the eggs myself--with a klub. This iz all i kno at prezent about the alligatur. * * * * * The Ren iz the smallest thing surrounded with feathers, except the humming bird. He iz about the size ov a horse chestnutt. He iz ov a dark brown color, and bilds hiz nest in not holes, out ov little bits ov stix. He iz az gritty az a mud pie, and will fight a hen turkey. Rens are little pirates; i hav seen them drive a blu-bird out ov his house, and sett up bizziness on hiz stock in trade. They lay an egg about the size ov a marrow fat p, and hatch out at least a half dozen children at a setting. A young ren iz the funniest little package i ever see done up; they aint much bigger, and look verry mutch like a small-sized semicolon. Rens are long-lived, but if they should live tew be az old az Methuseler, they wouldn't be az bigg az a butter-nutt. They liv on the bug and worm family, and spend their winters south. They are not profitable to eat--i would az soon dress a bumble bee, and one ren pot pie would use up the whole breed. * * * * * THE CROW.