58 THE STORY OF REPTILE LIFE. 



abdominal cavity containing the rest of the 

 viscera by a muscular partition : though this, it 

 is to be remembered, is of a different origin 

 from the mammalian partition known as the 

 diaphragm. 



The more perfect condition of the lungs and 

 heart, and the separation of the chest from the 

 abdominal cavity are points of exceeding interest, 

 foreshadowing the still more perfect conditions 

 of the organs in the more highly organised 

 birds and mammals, which at the time when 

 the earliest Crocodiles flourished had not yet 

 made their appearance on the earth. 



So far, perhaps, it may be objected, this 

 chapter has savoured more of the museum and 

 dissecting room than of living Crocodiles. 

 Although this is, in a measure, true, yet it is 

 contended that the facts which we have been 

 discussing are just those which will enable us to 

 appreciate the more fully the various phases 

 which make up the life-history of these animals. 

 In studying these creatures in their wild state, 

 or even in Zoological Gardens, these somewhat 

 technical details fall into their proper places, 

 and losing whatever appearance of pedantry 

 which paraded by themselves they may appear 

 to possess, will be regarded as so many keys 

 unlocking as many separate mysteries, and 

 thereby giving us an insight into the great 

 mystery of all how the Crocodile came to be. 



To see the Crocodile using this term in a 

 wide sense to include all living species of the 

 group in a wild state we must travel beyond 

 the confines of Europe, though earlier in the 



