Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-10-31

be unable to say, on the spur OF the
moment, to which family the reptile
belonged.
The clothing worn by the reptile is
the same, no matter in what country
he is found. 1t consists of numerous
square bony plates. These form a COM
plete dorsal shield that, in spots, will
turn a bullet into other channels.
There is no nourishment to be found
on the armor of a crocodile, yet it is
generally occupied by several brigades
Of insects and one small bird This,
of course, is only when the reptile is
basking on shore. He is so fond of
burying himself in mud Of a produc-
tive character that the insects find
upon his back all they are in imme-
date need of. The bird wants the IN
sects. He is grateful bird for the
moment he sees an enemy to his friend
he makes a commotion that at once
attracts the latter's attention. The
crocodile i. at once alive to the occa-
sion. If there is time to make his es-
cape he does so, as, in spite Of his
teeth and tail and his iron hide, he is
coward. If there is not time to get
away he plays possum, and he does
it well, except when he is tickled. No
crocodile can stand tickling if he is
tickled where his stumpy limbs join
his body. While he can handle him
self with ease and dexterity in the wa
ter, his movements upon land are de-
void of grace. His legs are unable
to bear his weight, SO that he is COM
PEELED in a great measure to drag his
body along the ground. By an inter-
position of Providence his neck Is so
stiff that if you are standing alongside
of him, about amidships, and he wants
to look you straight in the eye he Is
compelled to turn his whole body.
This gives a nervous person time to
take to the woods, if there are any.
When he lashes out with it his tail con-
tains quite as many elements Of dan
ger as an intoxicated lawn mower.
Some natives of Africa consider the
flesh of the tail delcacy. No white
man has ever been able to swallow a
bit of crocodile and keep it down. The
flavor is several degrees more over
powering than ten-year-old egg. The
crocodile can work his lower Jaw,
which enables him to yawn with great
freedom and to bite off more than he
can swallow at a single gulp. The te-
male never makes the mistake Of lay
ing her eggs in the water. She lays
them on the river bank, covers them
partially with any light material that
is handy, and let's the sun do the rest.
When hatched the Young are taken to
the water. The father crocodile pays
no attention to his children, unless he
can catch them alone, when he makes
a meal of them. He never attempts to
do anything Of this sort, however,
when the mother is in the vicinity.
The crocodile has no objection to reg
ular meals, but in the dry season he
buries himself in the mud and goes to
sleep after the manner Of the bear IN
winter. In this way he will sometimes
90 without food for year Upon
waking from nap Of this duration he
is something to be avoided If moth
ing happens to interfere with his
growth, and he comes of robust fam
ily, a crocodile will measure eighteen
feet in length upon reaching maturity
Except for show purposes and IN the
shape of travelling bags, the crocodile
is of little benefit to man.