A Social History of the American Alligator: The Earth Trembles with His Thunder

Alligator eggs incubated at 86F produce females; at 93.2F, males hatch. Glasgow, curator at the Louisiana State Museum, presents an entertaining compendium on alligators from myth to marketing, from monster movies to art and literature, to their place in modern wildlife management. We learn that the first massive use of alligator leather occurred during the Civil War; that alligators have been a major tourist attraction for more than 150 years; that their meat is low in fat, high in protein. Glasgow discusses the decline of the alligator and its spectacular comeback under enlightened management programs. In another chapter he explores the economics of alligators--Gatorade to Gucci. Illustrated. (Sept.)