EINAR LÖNNBERG, REPTILES. 



The specimens have chiefly been collected on the march between Nairobi and 

 Meru borna and back in a country which is more or less occupied by native shambas, 

 and in the surroundings of Guaso Nyiri river which on the southern side are mostly 

 acacia-steppe, on the northern dry thornbush. 



Crocodilia. 



Crocodilidse. 



Crocodilus niloticus. 



Blgk.: Cat. Chel. Crocod. B. M., p. 283. 



Guaso Nyiri was the only river in which I observed any Crocodiles. They are 

 there more numerous below than above Chanler Falls but I shot the first specimen 

 about one days march above the falls. This specimen was found basking in the sun 

 on the opposite shore of the river on a small sandbank. It measured exactly 3 m. 

 from the snout to the tip of the tail. It had the remains of a Grant gazelle in its 

 ventricle and also some small quartz stones, the largest about 33 mm. in diameter. 

 At other opportunities I shot some more Crocodiles. Those which I got a shore mea- 

 sured resp. 275, 250 and 200 cm. One shot in a deep pool at the side of the river 

 was undoubtedly more than 3 metres long but. although it floated with distended 

 belly on the surface of the water I could not get it ashore as there was plenty of 

 living Crocodiles left in the pool to snatch away any person foolish enough to swim 

 out in it. The Crocodiles here were namely rather fierce and our porters had more 

 than once a very narrow escape. A Crocodile was almost constantly for days wat- 

 ching in the river opposite our camp if it should get any opportunity. Finally one 

 evening when I had returned to camp I heard a cry »mamba, mamba» from the 

 river and hurried down and shot that »mamba campi» as our »boys» termed it. 1 It 

 was only 250 cm. long and in a poor condition but it had repeatedly tried to get 

 hold of porters coming down to fetch water, drink, or wash. 8 months eaiiier three 

 porters had been carried off by Crocodiles from another safari camping at the river 

 some way below Chanler Falls. 



A Crocodile which has been killed by the bullet sinks to the bottom, but in 

 the pool mentioned above where the Crocodiles had gorged themselves with hippo- 

 meat they floated immediately after death. Badly wounded animals disgorged the 

 contents of their stomach. 



Small Crocodiles were seen several times rushing into the water from the river 

 banks but big specimens I did not see outside the water except the first one men- 

 tioned above. I do not think that the Crocodiles grow to any very large size in 

 Guaso Nyiri probably not to 4 m. 



1 If one only wants to kill a Crocodile I fouud that a soft nosc 9,3 inni. liiauserbullet did the work 

 admirably. It crushed the whole posterior part of the hcad if the animal was hit in the proper place. 



