BOOK IIL REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 
BY W. SAVILLE-KENT, F.L.S., F,Z.S. 
REPTILES 
CHAPTER I 
CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS 
T he Reptile Class, as defined by modern scientific limitations, includes among the livn’ng 
animals of the world the several groups of the Crocodiles, the Tortoises and Turtles, the 
Tuatera, the Lizards, and the Snakes. In the popular mind the Frogs and Toads, and 
the Newts and Salamanders, are often held to belong to the same main section ; but these, 
as hereafter shown, claim, as Amphibians, an independent position of equivalent rank and value. 
In bygone geological ages the Reptile Class embraced a considerably larger number of groups : 
some of the members, such as the extinct Dinosaurs, comprised titanic monsters from 6o to 8o 
feet in length. The Crocodiles and Alligators of the present day are the only living reptiles 
which in any way approach the extinct Saurians in their dimensions, or assist us in some 
small measure to realise their unwieldy forms and bulk. 
The members of the Crocodile Order, which, in addition to the Alligators, includes also 
the Caimans and so-called 
ponderous lizard-like 
shape of their body, 
supported on well- 
developed but short 
and comparatively 
weak legs, in their 
special adaptation to 
an amphibious exist- 
ence, carnivorous 
habits, and restriction 
to tropical and sub- 
tropical climates. 
Among the salient 
•characters of the 
Crocodile, as the 
representative of its 
tribe, which specially 
adapt it for its aquatic 
habits, the long, power- 
ful tail is strongly 
compressed and thus 
fitted for use as an 
organ of propulsion, 
Gavials or Garials, agree with one another in the more or less 
V 
.V*\. 
Photo by IV, P. Dafido^ F.Z S, 
YOUNG NILE CROCODILE 
This species was worshipped with di-vitie honours and mummified after death by the ancient Egyptians 
147 
