The Biology of the Crocodilia 43 
length. It is said to be easily recognized by the 
prominent, longitudinal ridge that extends in 
front of each eye, over the prefrontal bone, and by 
the absence of the suboccipital scutes. 
It is typically an inhabitant of tidal waters and 
is sometimes found swimming at sea, out of sight 
of land; it seldom goes inland to any great distance 
from the sea. It is a man-eating species and many 
human lives are said to be destroyed by it in India 
and surrounding countries. A British “blue book” 
states that in British India 244 deaths were caused 
by Crocodilia in the year 1910. 
In captivity it is savage and untamable. Dit- 
mars, in speaking of three specimens that he had 
in captivity, says they were “‘positively the most 
vicious reptiles’’ he had ever seen. 
THE INDIAN GAVIAL, Gavialis gangeticus 
This animal, which inhabits the Ganges and 
other rivers of northern India, is, with the possible 
exception of the preceding species, the largest of 
the Crocodilia; it is said to reach a length of thirty 
feet, which is twice that of a very large Florida 
alligator. As previously noted its snout is ex- 
tremely long and narrow (Figs. 13 and 14), witha 
large, fleshy hump at the tip, that projects above 
the muddy water in which the animal lies concealed. 
It is a timid animal and, in spite of its huge size, 
dashes quickly into the water on the approach of 
