THE ALLIGATOR AND 
ITS ALLIES 
CHAPTER I 
THE BIOLOGY OF THE CROCODILIA 
CLASSIFICATION 
siderable difference of opinion as to the 
proper classification of the Crocodilia. 
One of the older textbooks (Claus and Sedgwick) 
divides the order Crocodilia into three sub-orders: 
the Teleosauria, Steneosauria, and Procelia, the 
last only being represented by living forms. The 
Proceelia or Crocodilia proper are divided into 
three families,—the Crocodilide, the Alligatoride 
(including the caiman as well as the alligator), 
and the Gavialide. 
This division into families seems to be based 
mainly on the shape of the head, or, at any rate, 
it throws those forms together that have heads 
of the same outline. 
\ S in most groups of animals, there is con- 
I 
