4- The Alligator and Its Allies 



mother doubtless opens the nest, at this time, to 

 allow the young to escape. A fence that Voeltzkow 

 built around a nest was repeatedly broken down 

 by the mother in attempting to get back to her 

 eggs. 



The character of the crocodile's egg is discussed, 

 in comparison with that of the Florida alligator, 

 on page 23. 



THE MARSH CROCODILE OR MUGGER, C. palustris 



Found in India, Ceylon, Burmah, the Malay 

 Peninsula, and many of the islands in that region. 

 It has a rather broad snout, and reaches a length 

 of twelve feet. It is a timid form and is harmless 

 to man. It is frequently venerated by the Hin- 

 doos and is kept in a semi-domesticated condition 

 in ponds where it is fed and becomes very tame. 



In the dry season when the natural ponds are 

 empty they sometimes migrate overland in search 

 of water, but generally they bury themselves in 

 the mud and lie dormant until the rains begin 

 again. 



THE SALT- WATER CROCODILE, C. porosus 



This is one of the largest if not the largest of 

 living reptiles (Fig. 12). It is said by Ditmars to 

 reach a length of twenty feet and there is a record 

 of one specimen that was thirty-three feet in 



