BEGINNING AS A COLLECTOR 31 



Regarding the crocodiles (sometimes wrongly called 

 alligators) of North Queensland, there are some curious 

 popular misconceptions. One is that the armour 

 plating on the skin will protect the animal almost 

 completely from rifle-bullets. 'As a matter of fact 

 a crocodile skin is vulnerable at any point if the 

 bullet strikes it directly, but the skin on the back 

 of the creature is certainly strong enough to turn 

 aside a glancing blow. Crocodiles are very common 

 in the northern rivers of Australia and in most of 

 the South Sea Islands. 



I recollect at Rossel Island in the Louisiade group 

 off the coast of New Guinea, hearing of and seeing 

 a huge crocodile which the natives seemed to hold 

 in a kind of veneration. They told the story that 

 this crocodile used to bring supplies of turtle and 

 fish for the villagers, and put these stores as food for 

 them on a large ledge of rock. Certainly the crocodile 

 did deposit these things as stated, but I suspect that 

 it was not out of any love for the villagers. Possibly 

 it might have had some connection with a habit 

 which crocodiles are said to have, of keeping any prey 

 they capture until it is in an advanced state of 

 decomposition. I have heard that when the crocodile 

 captures a calf or a human being, or any other prey 

 of the kind, it is usual for it to hide the body 

 away for some days before devouring it. Certainly 

 the crocodile is a carrion feeder, and the effect of its 

 bite, even when no actual serious wound has been 



