YOUNG CROCODILIANS IX CAPTIVITY. 169 



Crocodilians cannot turn their heads at right angles to 

 their necks. Probably the greatest angle will not be more 

 than 45 or 50 degrees. However, they reach this position 

 very quickly, and by a side swing of their bodies bring 

 their tails round forcibly, allowing prey little chance of 

 escape. These movements are accentuated when caused 

 by hunger or irritation. The young, sharp-nosed croco- 

 dile is more supple in all its movements. 



In attacking a living object, such as a frog, they try 

 and approach quietly until close ; then a short, sudden 

 rush and snap of the jaws settles the question. I have 

 on more than one occasion had my hand bitten and torn 

 by my Egyptian crocodile, almost painlessly, so quick has 

 been the attack. The teeth are buried deeply, but as the 

 creature pulls back or jerks sideways the resulting 

 wounds are always nasty lacerated ones. Their bites dc 

 not suppurate, and do not take longer to heal than any 

 other lacerated wound might do. 



Of all these reptiles, the Mississippi alligator 

 (PL II., fig. 2) is the most frequently imported. 

 It can usually be procured each season from the 

 large dealers, ranging in size from a foot upwards. 

 Specimens under eighteen inches are most suitable, 

 and they make very interesting little pets. The 

 ground colour is black, with deep, yellow transverse bars 

 on the body and tail. On the back the bars cross almost 

 at right angles, while on the sides they are wavy. Their 

 snouts are short, flat, and wide. In disposition they are 

 quiet, and seldom snap, feeding regularly. There are 

 six nuchal scutes longitudinally arranged in three pairs, 

 and about seventeen transverse dorsal rows, the widest 

 containing eight shields. The head is nearly twice as 

 long as broad at its base. 



Alligators are always keenly alert, watching any 



