CHAPTEE XVI. 



I. THE SCENE AND THE ACTOKS. 



THERE are three species or sub-species of crocodiles ; 

 first, the cayman, also called the alligator; second, 

 the crocodile; and third, the gavial. 



The cayman, or alligator, may be thus recognized : 

 when the mouth is closed the fourth tooth on each 

 side of the lower jaw passes into a hole in ' the 

 upper jaw. 



In the crocodile, in place of the hole just mentioned 

 there is only an indentation, so that the fourth 

 lower tooth remains visible when the mouth is 

 closed. 



Lastly, in the gavial the upper jaw on each side 

 is hollowed, not by a hole, as in the cayman, nor by 

 one indentation, as with the crocodile, but with two 

 indentations, in which the first and fourth lower 

 teeth lodge. Moreover, the gavial has very straight 

 and lengthy jaws, which form a kind of beak, more 

 or less cylindrical. 



