28o THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



much larger and stronger than the newt, it can swim with much 

 greater speed. 



Upon dry land the crocodile is not at all at its ease, and is slow 

 and clumsy in its movements. Its neck is formed in such a 

 manner that it cannot turn its head to either side; while its short, 

 feeble legs can only drag the long, heavy body along at a very 

 slow rate. But the animal does not often come on shore. It much 

 prefers to enjoy the warm sunshine while basking upon the surface 

 of the water. 



The hide of the crocodile is extremely hard ; so hard, indeed, 

 that even a rifle bullet will often glance off from it, if it should 

 happen to strike it at an angle. 



Knowing how tough the hide is, the natives of the countries 

 in which it lives often strip ofi" the skin of a dead crocodile, and 

 make it into suits of armour. And in these they are quite pro- 

 tected from the swords and spears of their foes. 



Like nearly all reptiles, the crocodile lays eggs, which it buries 

 in the sand, and leaves to be hatched by the heat of the sun. 

 These eggs are about as large as a turkey's, and are of a dirty 

 white colour. One crocodile lays from twenty to sixty eggs. 



A little animal called the mongoose is very fond of these eggs, 

 and digs up and eats so many that it helps to keep the numbers of 

 the crocodiles within due bounds. 



The Alligator, a near relation of the crocodile, is to be found 

 only in America. In form it is very like the crocodile, but it is 

 never quite so large. Its length is usually from fifteen to eighteen 

 feet. The habits of the two animals are similar. Other members 

 of this family are the Cayman and the Gavial. 



CHELONIA 



This order is divided into four families — the Tortoises and 

 Terrapins (family Testudinidse), a smaller family of the Alligator- 

 Terrapins, the Turtles (family Chelonidae), and the Soft Tortoises 

 (family Trionychidae). 



