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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



of tail, and is apparently in perfect physical condi- 

 tion. Considering the rarity, the price paid was not 

 excessive, yet it can be safely mentioned that no 

 other animal in the collections either exceeds or 



nearly equals the cost of this specimen. The Ger- 

 man keeper who accompanied her, en route, still 

 has her in charge until the park keepers become 

 familiar with her habits and diet. e. r. s. 



M.LIGATORS IN TMEIR .SL'\[MER 



Since theSea-lioii Tool in BairJ Court was completed, the alligators have been tr 

 House, formerly used by the Sea-lions. 



HOME. 



nsferred to the pool near the Reptile 



THE COLLECTION OF CROCODILIANS. 



EXCEPT for the distinct difference in the outline 

 of the snout, the various crocodilians look 

 ■ ver\' much alike to the popular observer. 

 .\mong all there is the rough, plated armor of the 

 back, the dull, monotonous coloration and always 

 the semi-aciuatic habits. From the standpoint of 

 habits, however, we may draw some sharp defini- 

 tions. Over forty specimens, representing four 

 species of crocodilians, are now living in the Reptile 

 House. The species exhibited are the Salt Marsh 

 Crocodile, Crocodiliis porosits — known as the Man- 

 eating Crocodile, of Malaysia; the Florida Croco- 

 dile, C. americanus foridanus ; the American 

 Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis and the Spec- 

 tacled Caiman, Caiman sclerops, of Central and 

 South America. One more species is needed to 

 make the collection thoroughly representative. 

 This is the Indian Gavial, having a snout so elon- 

 gated and slender as to look like a tooth-studded 

 beak. Gavials are common enough in the Ganges 



and other rivers of northern India, and the various 

 zoological institutions are always on the lookout 

 for specimens — without avail. Here lies the chance 

 for some enterprising person returning from the'^East 

 to readily dispose of, among the zoological institu- 

 tions of both Europe and America, a number of ani- 

 mals hardy in shipment. Incidentally it might be 

 explained that the Indian Gavial reaches the greatest 

 size of any of the crocodilians — a length of thirty feet. 

 The second largest of living crocodilians, the 

 Salt Marsh Crocodile, is represented in the Park 

 by a thriving young specimen nine feet long. In 

 spite of the fact that this species is a bold reptile 

 and a notorious menace to human life, our example 

 at the present time has a lamb-like disposition, 

 living in comparative harmony with the big colony 

 of alligators. For several weeks it valiantly tried 

 to hold its own against the aggressive actions of our 

 big Florida crocodiles, but was so vigorously mauled 

 that it lost all its fighting spirit, retreated to the 

 sand-bank, and would not go into the water for 

 food. Hence its transfer to the big alligator colony 



