82 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



representative of the Crocodilidce, it is a considerably 

 smaller animal than the Salt -Water Crocodile, the max- 

 imum length being about twelve feet. Unlike the other 

 species mentioned, the present one ranges far inland, 

 inhabiting marshes, rivers and lakes of India, Ceylon, 

 Burma, the Malay Peninsula as well as many of the 

 larger islands of the JNIalay Archipelago. During 

 the droughts, the crocodiles become uneasy owing to the 

 rapidly dropping water of their pools. They start on 

 overland excursions for more favorable places and dur- 

 ing such times may be found wandering through the 

 jungle at what seem to be considerable distances from 

 water. 



The Marsh Crocodile is naturally a timid reptile, 

 floundering for shelter at the sight of man. It should 

 not, therefore, be included in the list of those crocodilians 

 endangering human life. In some parts of India, col- 

 onies of these animals are partially confined and sub- 

 jected to worship. The reptiles become amusingly 

 tame, permitting audacious Hindoos to salaam within 

 a yard of them. Incidentally, such exhibitions involve 

 old specimens that have become so fat they are barely 

 able to waddle from the water to the bank. The 

 younger crocodiles in such places are vigorous enough, 

 greeting the tourist with gaping jaws — though such 

 actions are prompted by appetite alone and the reptiles 

 are friendly to some extent, even taking food from the 

 hand. The latter operation is risky, as without the least 

 evil intentions, the crocodiles are liable to take more 

 than the morsel offered. 



For the American Alligator, Alligator mississippi- 

 ensis, little description is necessary. The snout is very 

 broad — bluntly rounded at the tip. It lacks the notched, 

 cut -in outline on each side (toward the tip) as seen with 



