EGGS, HATCHING, AND CARE OF YOUNG 141 



that they breathe easily when near the surface with- 

 out thrusting the head far up. In one of the croco- 



FiG. 63. — Gavial {Gavialis gangetica). 



dihans — the Gavial (Fig. 63) — the male has a great 

 warty bunch on the snout throuo^h which the nostrils 

 open. 



Eggs, Hatching, and Care of Young 



We have spoken of the eggs of reptiles as being 

 large and free from each other — like those of birds. 

 Those of the crocodilians and all tortoise-forms, ex- 

 cept the paddle-feet kinds, have limy hard shells, but 

 in all others a tough membrane only covers them. 

 They consist of a yolk and " white ■ ' as in hen eggs, 

 and in no case are they fertilized (or made so they 

 will hatch) after they have been laid, as is the case 



