206 THE HERPETOLOGY OF CUBA. 
body, denoting the position of the gland that disseminated a strong odor of musk, could be 
seen on each side of the throat. I have not seen this gland in my tame Cocodrilos, nor in 
any of the many that I have shot in the Cienaga de Zapata. I cannot be sure that the gland 
does not exist, but I do assert that it is not visible externally, and that this species does not 
exude the musky odor. 
“The popular saying is that the Cocodrilo, and perhaps the Caiman, will ery like a child 
in order to attract attention. I have heard them produce a sound but once, this was like the 
hoarse bellowing of a bull, and was produced by the o of my pair. I am led to believe that 
this sound is made only at mating time. This sound may probably be heard often in the 
“Taguna del Tesoro.” I once saw the penis of the male in erection, its color was carmine. 
“ Another belief is that these animals open their mouths so that it may become filled 
with flies, then it is shut and the flies are swallowed. I have noticed however that they open 
their mouths when basking in the sun, whether there are flies present or not, and as they have 
no tongue they could not swallow such small objects. It is my belief that they shut their 
mouths, because of the tickling caused by the flies, doing so with a noise like a hand-clap. 
“They will swallow at once a small animal or piece of beef, but if it be a large one, they 
will hold it, shaking it the while until perhaps a part may be shaken off. This they will 
swallow, then continue the process. Another method is to allow the object to rot when it 
may be the more easily shaken to pieces. These animals do not chew, nor can they cut their 
food into bits with their teeth. These are used for holding their prey, as also for tearing which 
is accomplished by a twisting motion such as is used in pulling a nail with pincers. I have 
often noticed that when I fed large pieces of beef to my Cocodrilos, if a part of it remained 
outside the mouth, the other Cocodrilo would seize it and by twisting his body rapidly round 
and round would pry the morsel from the owner’s mouth. I should also mention that if the 
prey was a large animal it would be drawn under, and thus killed; this happens with a pig or 
dog. It is known that they have killed human beings. I shall recite an episode told me by 
Don Helvecio Lanier. Once while this gentleman was on the Isla de Pinos at Nueva Gerona, 
one of the numerous prisoners of war interned there insisted upon bathing in a river which 
was known to be inhabited by a large Caiman. No sooner had he jumped in than he was 
seized by the beast and pulled under; his companions being infuriated laid traps and caught 
the animal, which they would have torn to pieces had not Sr. Lanier intervened asking them to 
allow him to remove the hide, after which they tore the body into bits. Nine foot Cocodrilos 
or Caimanes are not to be feared, I myself have gone into lagoons up to my chest where they 
abound, and instead of attacking they have always run away. 
“T have found it easier to kill them with shot, even if this be of medium size, than 
with ball the latter must strike at right angles to the skin, else it will rebound upon striking 
the hard outside integument, the soft under parts being below water. By using bird shot, 
aiming between the eyes, the shot spreading, some of them will enter through the orbits 
and perhaps reach the brain. Upon being shot the Cocodrilo will roll about for a few minutes, 
after which it will become so tired that it will allow itself to be taken by the end of the tail 
and dragged ashore, there to be dispatched with very little resistance. The Cocodrilo while 
being dragged will not turn against its tormentor, but will do its utmost to pull itself away. 
One must take care however not to stop once the dragging process is begun so as not to allow 
the beast a chance to defend itself. I have killed all the Cocodrilos I have shot at. In 
capturing a Cocodrilo with a lasso, one must be careful always to keep the rope in a straight 
line away from its long axis, as if it happens to get at right angles, the animal will roll over 
and over, very quickly winding up the rope about its body and finally reaching its captor’s 
hands, when there is danger of being bitten. If the animal is left tied fo any length of time 
1 It must be recalled that Gundlach had only very antiquated fire-arms. 
