158 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



known; the most conspicuous being the Caiman or Cayman, oc- 

 curring principally in Guiana and Surinam; while in Brazil we 

 find the Spectacled alligator or Jacare'. Either of these are repre- 

 sentative of the genus to which they belong, namely, the genus 

 Caiman, containing several species; and the genus Jacare, also 

 including five or six species more. 



It is said that the Caimans never grow to be as large as an alli- 

 gator, nor are they ever so dangerous or voracious. Men are 

 never attacked by them, either on shore or in the water, so long 

 as the limbs are kept in motion. Caimans also differ from alli- 

 gators in placing their eggs in a single layer, and for the utter 

 neglect of their young after hatching. Now when a female alli- 

 gator is about to lay, she first digs a deep hole in the sand, in 

 which she deposits her eggs in layers, placing dry grass and 

 leaves between each layer. In the United States this occurs, as 

 a rule, but once during the season, as the eggs must be hatched 

 out by the heat of the sun. Caimans on the other hand, although 

 they lay each time a far fewer number of eggs, breed several 

 times during the year; especially this is the case in the hottest 

 parts of the region where they are found. , A female alligator 

 will watch and guard her nest of eggs until they are hatched, and 

 then she immediately takes charge of the brood, affording them 

 all the protection and care in her power. In these special traits 

 they resemble the true crocodiles. 



The female jacar6 also deposits her eggs in a single layer, 

 covering them likewise with leaves and straw. It is said that the 

 vultures often scratch the eggs out and consume them; while a 

 large number of the progeny are devoured by the adult males of 

 this species. When the young first make their appearance it is 

 usually at the hottest season of the year; food is scarce, and the 

 marshes nearly all dried up. This conduces to make the males 

 ravenous, and so their own young get the benefit of it, and are de- 

 voured whenever the female cannot sufficiently protect them 

 against their fierce attacks. 



The egg of this species are about the size of those of an ordi- 

 nary goose, being, however, elongate and ellipsoidal in form. 

 As in the case of all the Crocodilia, they are also white wdth a 

 hard shell. The Indians of Brazil are very fond of jacar eggs, 

 and will also eat the flesh of the reptile itself, juiceless and 

 musky as it is. Jacare"s feed principally upon water-fowl and 

 fish, and never touch any animal that they may by chance have 

 destroyed in guarding their nest or young. 



