ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1003 



BROAD-NOSED CROCODILE 

 A small and savage species from Central Africa. 



the standpoint of habits, however, we may 

 draw some sharp definitions. Apparently 

 the largest existing species is the Indian 

 Gavial, represented in our collection by a nine 

 foot example. This mighty saurian attains 

 a length of at least thirty feet and is alleged 

 to grow larger. Mr. Lorenz Hagenbeck tells 

 the writer that he shot a specimen in the 

 Ganges that was an inch or so over thirty 

 feet long and three feet in diameter at the 

 thickest part of the body. Despite the huge 

 size this species appears to be inoffensive to 

 man. 



The second largest of living crocodil- 

 ians, the Salt Marsh Crocodile, is repre- 

 sented in the Park by a thriving young speci- 

 men five feet long. This is a bold reptile and 

 a notorious menace to human life. It is 

 commonly known as the man-eating croco- 

 dile and shares a similarly bad reputation 

 with a large species inhabiting the Nile. 

 Notwithstanding its savage reputation, our 

 young example tried to hold its own against 

 the aggressive actions of our Florida croco- 

 diles, but was so vigorously mauled that it 

 lost all its righting spirit, retreated to the 

 sand-bank and would not go into the water 

 for food. 



The distribution of Crocodilus porosus is the 

 most extensive of any member of its family. 

 It inhabits the coast swamps of India, Malay- 

 sia and northern Australia, even occurring on 

 small isolated islands in vast expanses of the 

 eastern oceans. This may be accounted for 



by the bold swimming habits of the species. 

 Specimens are often sighted by vessels when 

 several hundred miles from land. 



Another of our Old World saurians is the 

 Broad-nosed Crocodile, of West Africa. Here 

 is an illustration of the variability of size in 

 closely related species. This animal grows to 

 a maximum length of eight feet. Its broad, 

 bony head, protruding eyes and generous 

 teeth cause it to appear exceptionally surly— 

 which is indeed the case. A three-foot speci- 

 men so lacerated the hand of Head-keeper 

 Snyder as to make vigorous surgical treat- 

 ment quite necessary. 



As a rule, captive crocodiles are far more 

 savage than alligators. It was not long ago 

 that the writer was treated to a demonstra- 

 tion of this. It was aboard a big freighter 

 from the East, which had touched at many 

 ports and brought along a miscellaneous col- 

 lection of wild creatures as a business venture 

 on the captain's part. The writer was escort- 

 ed into the hold and there in the light of sev- 

 eral lanterns was a veritable ark. Pairs of 

 luminous eyes roved in short spaces, showing 

 the cage limits of leopards and other cat 

 animals. Snarls, growls, hisses and stamping 

 of hoofs denoted the presence of many rest- 

 less forms, crowded in their miserable quar- 

 ters, where they had spent at least three 

 months. Some of these fretting creatures 

 were behind bars, some in slatted crates, the 

 weaker in bamboo cages, while a few closed 

 boxes gave no signs of life. 



