42 The Alligator and Its Allies 
mother doubtless opens the nest, at this time, to 
allow the young toescape. A fence that Voeltzkow 
built around a nest was repeatedly broken down 
by the mother in attempting to get back to her 
eggs. 
The character of the crocodile’s egg is discussed, 
in comparison with that of the Florida alligator, 
on page 23. 
THE MARSH CROCODILE OR MuGGER, C. palustris 
Found in India, Ceylon, Burmah, the Malay 
Peninsula, and many of the islands in that region. 
It has a rather broad snout, and reaches a length 
of twelve feet. It is a timid form and is harmless 
to man. It is frequently venerated by the Hin- 
doos and is kept in a semi-domesticated condition 
in ponds where it is fed and becomes very tame. 
In the dry season when the natural ponds are 
empty they sometimes migrate overland in search 
of water, but generally they bury themselves in 
the mud and lie dormant until the rains begin 
again. 
THE SALT-WATER CROCODILE, C. porosus 
This is one of the largest if not the largest of 
living reptiles (Fig. 12). It is said by Ditmars to 
reach a length of twenty feet and there is a record 
of one specimen that was thirty-three feet in 
