222 MR. W. A. LAMEORN ON THE 



II. On the Habits of African Crocodiles. 



My second note relates to the eggs of a crocodile found at the 

 camp already mentioned. 



On about April 15th, 1912, my attention was drawn by a 

 native to croaking noises, much like the sounds made by our 

 English frogs at the breeding-season, emanating from below the 

 path at a spot about 6 feet from my bungalow, which is about 

 50 feet above water-level and about 100 yards from the lagoon. 



The native told me that crocodiles' eggs must have been 

 deposited there, and that when the young ones are about to 

 hatch out they invariably make these sounds so that the mother 

 may learn that they are ready and come to dig up the eggs. 

 There were no surface indications of any disturbance of the 

 ground, and as the path had been made of laterite crushed and 

 rolled hard to a cement-like consistence three years before, and as 

 there had been a daily stream of passers by on it all this time, I 

 was not inclined to believe his story. However, on digging with 

 a cutlass we found 13 eggs at a depth of about 18 inches. The 

 eggs were elliptical, measuring 67 mm. in length and 42*5 mm. 

 in maximum diameter. The croaking sounds did come from 

 these, for some of the young crocodiles croaked as I held the 

 eggs in my hand, and when these ceased others seemed to begin 

 croaking in turn. The sounds were to be heard at regular 

 intervals of five seconds. 



All the eggs, except a bad one, were starred by fracture at 

 a particular spot, at the side towards one pole, though the shell 

 was still held in shape by the unbroken subjacent membrane, and 

 all the young crocodiles hatched within half an hour of being 

 dug up. 



In four cases the head only came out, and as the young seemed 

 too feeble to complete the exodus we pulled them out, after waiting 

 a reasonable time. 



The young cr^ocodiles attempted to run off in the long grass 

 as soon as they hatched and showed active resentment at 

 any molestation, viciously snapping at the hand if one touched 

 them. They were placed in a bath, in shallow water changed daily, 

 and for about two weeks after hatching they croaked at night, 

 especially when rain was in the air, but after that they made no 

 sounds unless one approached after dark with a light, when an 

 occasional croak might be heard. 



They remained healthy and active, though without food, for 

 two months, and then a small fish was administered to each, and 

 when I came away in July they were feeding of their own accord 

 on small fish and large freshwater shrimps, 



I ha,ve been informed by natives that the young crocodiles, 

 immediately after hatching, attach themselves to the dorsal fi-inge 

 on the tail of the mother and are thus conveyed by her to the 



