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YOUNG CROCODILIANS IN CAPTIVITY. 

 By Dr. J. H. O'Coxxell. 



"Read December 9th, 1904.] 



The keeping of crocodiliaiis in private collections, for 



purposes of study or merely as a hobby, is not as much 

 indulged in as the interest centred in the group would 

 seem to warrant ; a common impression among the 

 uninitiated being that crocodiles and alligators 'between 

 which genera the general public draws no distinction), are 

 sluggish, uninteresting, and slow. 



The term " crocodilian " is applied to a group of 

 highly specialized shielded reptiles, which are divided into 

 six genera. In form they are long and rather narrow, 

 with a flattened cylindrical body, flat head, and long, 

 tapering tail vertically compressed for the last half or 

 third of its length, and usually bearing a serrated crest. 

 This crested tail is their swimming organ, and is of great 

 assistance to them in getting through the water. They 

 have four short legs, the front pair bearing five toes, the 

 hinder ones four : the three inner toes of both pairs only 

 being clawed. The members of this group share, in 

 common with all reptiles, the peculiarity of possessing an 

 exoskeleton of scales. The length of the body measures 

 rather more than the head and neck, and the tail is still 

 longer than head, neck., and body combined. The pupil 

 of the eye is vertical and slit-like. Their mouths are 

 armed with sharp, conical teeth, having hollow bases, 

 which are planted in sockets in the jaws. These teeth are 



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