THE ALLIGATOR. 



149 



this, that Crocodiles bred in captivity in the menagerie of the 

 Museum of Natural History, at Paris, sometimes live for several 

 months without eating. 



The female Alligator takes more care of her young than the 



Fig. 34. Alligator (Crocodilus lucius). 



female Crocodile, properly so called. She conducts them to the 

 water, and in the slimy mud she disgorges her half-digested food 

 for their nourishment. 



The TRUE CROCODILES are indigenous to Africa, but they are 

 found also in Manilla and India. Their length of head is almost 

 double its breadth. The fourth tooth of the lower jaw is the 

 longest and largest of all, and passes into an indentation hollowed 

 out in the edge of the upper jaw, becoming visible on the outside. 

 The hind feet have on their external edge a dentated crest, and 

 the interstices of their toes, externally, are palmated. 



The principal type is the Common Crocodile, C. vulgaris, which 

 sometimes attains the length of nine or ten feet. The upper part 

 of the body of these reptiles is of an olive green colour spotted with 



