548 



The Living Animals of the World 



relatively small in size, those of the largest species not exceeding that of a goose in 

 dimensions. In shape they are more or less symmetrically ovate, and encased with a hard, 

 white shell. In the case of the crocodile, the female selects a suitable dry sand-bank near 

 the river's edge, in which it excavates a hole of about 2 feet deep, and, having deposited 

 from twenty to sixty eggs therein, mounts guard over them, sleeping on top of the nest by 

 day, until the young are hatched. With the alligator, the site chosen for the nest is more 

 usually among bushes or reeds at some distance from the water, and the eggs, which may 

 be laid to the number of over 100, are covered over with leaves and vegetable debris, whose 

 decomposition engenders the heat required for their successful incubation. In both instances 

 the parent jealously guards the nest and repels all intruders until the eggs are hatched, and 

 ultimately conducts the young ones to the water, where they soon learn to shift for themselves. 

 Numbers of them, nevertheless, in their young and weak state, fall victims to vultures, hawks, 

 ichneumons, and all manner of birds and beasts of prey. From their birth the little saurians 

 are most vicious and irascible in disposition, hissing and snapping at or laying hold with bull-dog 

 tenacity of a finger or other seizable object that may be held towards them. From their 

 earliest days also they are eminently aggressive and carnivorous. Contenting themselves at 

 first with flies and other insects, they speedily extend their attentions to frogs, lizards, fish, or 



any small animals which frequent 

 the marshes and river-banks ; and 

 finally, with their concurrently in- 

 creased appetites and dimensions, 

 requisition such larger prey as 

 sheep, goats, deer, horses, and, as 

 before mentioned, even the human 

 species, if they can steal a march 

 on them unawares. Crocodiles 

 are provided with relatively small 

 gullets, and are necessarily in- 

 capable of swallowing any prey 

 whole which is of large dimensions. 

 Accordingly any big quarry which 

 is seized and dragged into the river 

 is disposed of piecemeal, the reptile 

 rending the carcase in fragments 

 with the aid of its terrible teeth and side-wrenches of its ponderous body. 



Of crocodiles proper, as distinguished from alligators, there are some dozen known species. 

 From their last-named near allies they are distinguished by the entire absence of the 

 supplementary bony armature which in most alligators underlies the outer horny cuirass on 

 the under surface of the body. A more essential distinction is associated with the character 

 of the teeth. The upper and lower teeth of the crocodile interlock, and the fourth lower 

 canine-like tooth is received into a notch in the side of the upper jaw, and is consequently 

 more or less visible when the mouth is closed. In the alligators, on the other hand, this 

 bigger tusk-like tooth fits into a pit-like excavation in the upper jaw, and is invisible when 

 the mouth is shut. 



The TRUE CROCODILES are found in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australasia, and 

 Central America. The largest is undoubtedly the estuarine species, ranging from the eastern 

 shores of India, through the Malay region, to North and East Australia, New Guinea, and 

 the Fiji Islands. This wide range is a natural concomitant of their brackish- and salt-water 

 proclivities. Individuals of the species are, in fact, not infrequently met with floating on the 

 sea at some considerable distance from the land. An example of this estuarine species has 

 been recorded which measured no less than 33 feet, while a length of 20 feet and over is by 

 no means of uncommon occurrence. 



Photo by W. Saville-Kent, F.Z.S.] 



A QUEENSLAND CROCODILE. 

 The specimen referred to in the anecdote on page 550. 



Milford-on-Sta. 



