REE SOL ALL, LANDS 60 
On 
ONE OF NATURE'S NONDESCRIPS: MATAMATA (Chelys fimbriata), GUIANAS 
The flattened head terminates in a tubular appendage, the neck has a waving fringe, while 
the eyes are incongruously small. 
Photo by Raymond L. Ditmars. 
lows low coastal regions warmed by 
currents from the tropics. 
The largest modern reptile occurs in 
India, along the Ganges and the Brahma- 
putra. This is the gavial, a remarkable 
reptile attaining a length of 30 feet. 
Despite its great size and bulk and its 
tooth-studded jaws, it is a timid animal, 
dashing into the silty, opaque water at 
the sight of man. Judging from the 
massive structure of a big specimen, one 
might be led to believe it would literally 
wallow for the water when frightened. 
It is quite nimble, however, and the pon- 
Its temper is in keeping with its looks (see page 608). 
derous creature actually runs for the 
sheltering current. The prey consists of 
fish. 
Mr. Lorenze Hagenbeck informs the 
writer that he shot a 30-foot gavial with 
a body fully three feet in diameter. The 
striking feature about the gavial is the 
structure of the head. From in front of 
the eyes the snout extends forward in 
such slender fashion it might be com- 
pared to an enormously elongated, duck- 
like bill. A photograph of this impor- 
tant reptile is presented on page 614. 
The salt-marsh crocodile of Malaysia 
