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THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



out, and are replaced by others, as often as their points are worn 

 away. But though the jaws of the crocodile are so hideous there 

 is a little bird which is not afraid to enter its mouth. It seems to 

 do so in search of food, and it probably picks up leeches and other 

 parasites that have been irritating the great reptile, for the latter 

 never seeks to interfere with its intrepid little visitor. 



If we were to examine the crocodile, we should see at once 

 that its feet are not nearly large and broad enough to serve as 



Crocodile and Crocodile-birds 



paddles, like those of the duck or the swan. Even if they were so, 

 indeed, the short and feeble limbs would not be strong enough 

 to drive them with sufficient force through the water. In their 

 place, however, it employs its long, broad tail, one sweep of 

 which will propel it for a distance of many yards. The crocodile, 

 in fact, swims just like the common newts, or "efts" as they are 

 sometimes called, which we may find in great numbers in almost 

 any weedy pond. 



If you catch a newt, and put it into a basin of clear water, you 

 quickly notice that it does not use its feet at all in swimming; 

 but that it simply waves its tail from side to side as it glides 

 along. 



This is exactly what the crocodile does. Only, as it is so very 



