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Marvels of the Universe 



{_W. p. Oando, F.Z.S. 

 IHE CAIMAN. 



A Caiman is neither a crocodile nor an alligator, though more nearly allied to the family of the latter. Their skin is 



deep black, ^vith yellow markings. 



occasion ; but it may be stated that while all alligators have broad, stumpy snouts, most, although 

 by no means all, crocodiles have narrower and more pointed muzzles. True alligators have, how- 

 ever, a much more restricted distribution than crocodiles ; one species inhabiting the Mississippi 

 valley and the other the valley of the Yang-tsi, in the heart of China. In tropical America there 

 is, however, a nearly allied group of five species, often spoken of as South American alligators, but 

 whose proper designation is caimans, or jacares. Several of these are more brightly coloured 

 than crocodiles or true alligators, having the skin deep black, withjyellow markings. 



Crocodiles, alhgators and caimans, like the majority of reptiles, produce their young from eggs, which 

 in this group have hard shells and are about as large as those of a goose, although more elongated, 

 and with the two ends nearly equal in size. In laying their eggs among dense vegetation the 

 tropical American caimans differ from the crocodiles of the Old World, which make their nests in 

 holes in the sand, and cover their eggs with a thick layer of the same, incubation being effected 

 by the heat of the sun's rays. From twenty to sixty eggs may go to form a clutch. In the case 

 of both crocodiles and caimans, the female parent takes up her station in the neighbourhood of the 

 nest ; and when the young reptiles are readj' to emerge, they attract her attention by uttering shriU 

 cries, those of young crocodiles being audible through a couple of feet or so of sand. Thereupon the 

 mother crocodile digs down to the eggs, the shells of which are then chipped open by their occupants, 

 which, like young caimans, are armed with a special temporar}' tooth for this purpose ; but the 

 female caiman merelv has to remove the layer of brushwood with which they are covered. 



THE COMMON DIVING BEETLE 



BY HAROLD BASTIN. 



A BEETLE is one of the chief marvels of the universe ; it is so wonderfully equipped for the life 

 which it leads, so liberally endowed with unerring instincts. This statement apphes to beetles 

 in general, but it is especially true of the common Diving Beetle, a creature which may be readily 

 studied, since it frequents pools and ditches throughout the kingdom, and will soon make itself 



