The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-12
AUSTRALIAN CROC0DILEs..
Fierce, Cunning and Powerful Mon
sters of the AntipOdes.
From the Sydney Mail

From the Sydney Mail.
The crocodile of the Nile differs very
little from that of our own Northern
rivers, which is generally termed "alliga-
tor" though in reality a true crocodile.
There is also considerable difference in
the teeth, and their disposition in the
jaws, The teeth of the alligator are I'M
equal, and the larger of the lower canine
enters a cavity in the upper jaw, while
that of the crocodile simply fits into a
groove on the outside of the upper jaw,
leaving the tooth clearly visible when the
mouth of the monster is closed There
are also differences in the webbing of the
toes and the form of the legs, though to
the general observer there is little or no
difference. Crocodiles seem equally at
home in salt or fresh water, while alliga-
tors don't appear to RELISH and rarely
visit, salt waters. The crocodiles, no
doubt, feed largely upon fish, but as they
grow older and stronger and require great
quantities of food, they will when hum
cry, attack anything from a sheep or
kangaroo to a bullock q big crocodile
making short work of a bullock weighing
over half ton. Some of these monsters
measure as much as twenty-seven feet in
length, and possess immense strength be-
It win lie in wait at any watering place
frequented by animals hardly distinguish
able from a log of wood, so still and i'm
passive has it become. The animal COM
ing down to drink is suddenly seized in
the crocodile's huge jaws and drawn into
the water and drowned. At other times
the tail is used to sweep the animal into
deep water, where, even though it's prey
may be a heavy bullock it has little or
no chance against its enemy which is
specially provided by nature with an ar
rangement that prevents the water rush
ing down Its huge throat, even though
its jaws are fully distended through hold
ing its prey. Thus, after few brief sec
onds the unequal struggle is over, and
the saurian takes the carcass in tow 10
some favored locality where he can en-
joy 1t at his leisure.
In the early days at Port Darwin, New
Zealand, bathing in the open sea was for
hidden, owing to the danger from croco-
dies, there and nearly everywhere else
In Australia called allgators, though in
reality no true alligator exists i'm Austria
liza. young trooper named Davis,
fine swimmer, disregarded the general or
der, and one morning early went for
swim. Far out in the harbor he noticed
what he and others took to be a floating
log. Many of the Northern trees float,
and are washed down in the wet season
swimmer, nearer and nearer TO the sup
posed log, until too late he recognized his
mistake and that he was approaching
instead of a log a huge and apparently
listless crocodile. But the knowledge
came too late to be Of any service to poor
Davis, though some men called out to him
from a small craft close by TO go back"
ego back!' and Davis did make an at
tempt to retreat and was swimming man
fully shoreward when the huge brute
flashed down upon him at a terrific speed
and, opening his great jaws to their ut
most capacity, came down with a smack
that was heard even 10 the shore, and
inside their cruel grasp was Trooper Da
Wis head. Then. with the quickness COM
mon to the saurian il had disappeared with
it's victim. Every possible attempt was
made TO recover the body, but without
success, though the harbOr was soon alive
with boats, and the water thrashed around
for a considerable time. Though this
means failed the body was soon afterward
found lying on a rock, or, rather a reef,
some distance from the scene of the acct
dent. The lowering of the boats and the
noise Of che beaten water had no doubt
caused the monster TO let go his prey.
Crocodile at night time low and below
just like cattle. especially like bulls, and
l have spent some nights in an open boat
in Cambridge gulf, Northwestern Austria
ia, WDeIe Inc Whole place seemed to be
alive with them and what with their
splashes and cries, the weirdness of the
whole scene, and their close proximity as
they at times rocked the boat, sleep was
impossible, for there are several instances
on record where crocodiles have taken or
have attempted TO take men from out Of
camps and boats. A poor fellow named
Reed. the mate or second mate of the
Gulnan, had gone in his vessel 20 some
river In Carpentara gulf-I believe the
Roper. The vessel was at anchor near the
mouth of the river. The mate, Reed. had
been dispatched in charge of a watering
parry, and was some distance up the river
in a large open boat. Water had been OBJ
tanned, and they were al ready for a re-
turn 70 the ship. All being made snug the
tired fellows turned in, having made their