From the archive, 14 March 1957: Travelling through America with an alligator — theguardian.com

I saw him first on one of the roadside stalls that line the great highways east and west of Florida. It was a fairytale setting. In the shining blue of the sky a flock of pelicans flew, spanish moss hung in drifts, and all around colours gleamed. The sign above him said "Genuine North American Alligator—$3 with Bucket." In actual fact he was a cayman, imported from South America. The owner of the stall sauntered over and poked him meanly to make him snap. He didn't snap. Instead he winked majestically at me, and I bought him.

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