264 



SNAKES, 'PUKTLES, LIZARDS, CK0C(.)1JILES 



and in Asia. Tlie American crocodile can be distinguished 

 from the alligator by its narrower snout. It sometimes 

 attains the length of twelve feet. Crocodiles are ferocious 

 and kill many large animals which are seized jjy the snout 

 as they come d(jwn to tlie water to drink. 



Alligators. — Like tlie painted tvu'tle, the alligator spenrls 

 nuich of the day lying along a log basking in the sun, 



IS.3. 



ready to slip into the watei- at a moment's notice. Alliga- 

 tors are exceedingly active in the -waler and live upon 

 animals that come to the water to (hhik and ujinn fish. 

 They ahvii>'s di'ag their pi-ey l)en('atii tlic water and drown 

 it. The passage leading to the lungs is closed li}' a peculiar 

 ari-atigeiiieiit at I he base of the tongue, so that no water 



