NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 175 
South America and attains a maximum length of shell of 
about 14 inches. The shell is elongated and blackish, each 
of the shields having a yellowish center. Like all of the 
tortoises, this is a herbivorous reptile. 
The Marine Turtles.—At the New York Aquarium, sit- 
uated in Battery Park, and managed by the New York 
Zoological Society, will be found a fine collection of such 
large sea-turtles as the Loggerhead, Green Turtle and 
Hawksbill, which require salt water. 
The Soft-Shelled Turtle, (Aspidonectes ferox).—As to liv- 
ing relatives, this strange genus seems apropos of nothing. 
Like some of the marine turtles its shell is greatly reduced 
in weight, so that it can float more readily ; instead of being 
solid bone, it terminates in a wide, thin edge of cartilage, 
which is so soft that when properly boiled it constitutes 
palatable food. 
THE CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS. 
The Order of Crocodilians.—This important Order, the 
members of which are widely distributed throughout the 
tropics and sub-tropics of the world, contains nineteen 
species. At this point it is well to correct certain very 
general misapprehensions regarding crocodilians. 
Crocodiles are not confined to the Old World; at least 
three species being found abundantly in tropical America. 
The ‘‘movement”’ of a crocodile’s jaw differs in no man- 
ner whatever from that of an alligator. 
Only a few species of crocodiles are dangerous to man. 
There is no authentic record of the loss of a human life 
through our common alligator. 
The Alligator genus embraces the American Alligator, 
(A. mississippiensis), of the southern United States and a 
small species found in China! The head of the Alligator is 
very flat and its sides are nearly parallel, while the head of 
a typical crocodile is nearly triangular. 
The American Alligator is well represented in the Pool in 
the Reptile House, by several lusty specimens, all of which 
eat voraciously, are growing rapidly, and undoubtedly en- 
joying life. The largest specimen, a burly monster over 
twelve feet in length, has grown nearly five feet in length 
since its arrival here in 1899. ; 
In summer, the Alligator Pool on the hill, southeast of the 
Reptile House, is well stocked with alligators of various 
