THE SCAVENGERS OF THE SHORE 



crocodile and the great Indian crocodile, and even in the case of 

 these species it seems that it is only individuals — as in the case of 

 lions and tigers — which become man-eaters. I myself had reason 

 to be convinced that the Indian mugger or marsh crocodile, which 

 does not exceed twelve or thirteen feet in length, is, like the American 

 species, by no means a formidable creature; for when I was in 

 Ceylon my native companion continually urged me to shoot one of 

 these creatures, so that he could haul it out of the tank, and it was 

 obvious that he had not the slightest fear of being seized by the 

 other reptiles. At the same time, a crocodile even twelve feet in 

 length looks a very large and sinister creature, and I can understand 

 that anyone unused to the sight of such reptiles, or unfamiliar with 

 their habits, would naturally believe that they were dangerous. 



Only when it is defending its young does the caiman attack. 

 The reptile makes itself a nest of vegetable refuse, whose decomposi- 

 tion generates a high temperature and thus incubates the eggs. 

 When American crocodiles have made savage attacks on man, they 

 were always parent reptiles anxious for the safety of their eggs or 

 their young. And, of course, the crocodile defends itself if brought 

 to bay. 



The hide of the South American caiman, which is found as far 

 south as La Plata, cannot, like tlie hide of the North American 

 alligator, be turned into leather. In South America, consequently, 

 there are no crocodile farms, whereas there are alligator farms in 

 Florida. But although the Jacare of Brazil is commercially valueless, 

 I do not believe the Brazilian exists who, with rifle in hand, could 

 pass such a reptile without shooting at it; and in all probability it 

 will not be long before the caiman has to be added to the long list 

 of animals exterminated by the hand of man. Our grandchildren, 

 for whom travel in remote quarters of the earth will be easier than 

 it is for us, will see little more there than they would at home; 

 such rare creatures as cannot adapt themselves to the machinery 

 of civilization will have perished in Brazil as elsewhere. Man can 

 tolerate only servile natures ; masterful creatures which offer him 

 a stubborn resistance, obey only their own natural impulses, and 

 for that very reason possess beauty and fascination — such creatures 

 he destroys. 



The extent to which the animal world contributes to the comfort 

 of mankind will be increased, but our souls will be the poorer. 

 For in each one of us, no matter how completely his mentality may 

 be subdued to the Age of Technique, there survives, buried out of 



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