CHAPTER X 



CROCODILES 



THE chief difference between the croco- 

 dile and the alligator lies in the head, 

 the snout of the latter usually being 

 much longer and narrower than that of the 

 former. While there are no alligators in Africa, 

 there are both crocodiles and alligators in the 

 United States. 



As we left Lake Albert and entered the Nile 

 we found crocodiles in considerable numbers. 

 As the steam-launch Kenia glided down-stream, 

 crocodiles slid from the bank into the water. 

 Frequently, while passing a narrow bay or round- 

 ing a sharp bend, we surprised one or more 

 at close range, and they swished their tails in 

 the air and scrambled into the river. 



At "Rhino Camp" they were very common, 

 and our party killed several during our three 

 weeks' stay. Colonel Roosevelt shot one from 

 which we took forty-eight eggs and Kermit 

 killed another that contained fifty-two eggs. 



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