Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-03
AUSTRALIAN oRocoDrLEs.
Fierce, Cunning, and Powerful Nom
sters Of the Antjpodes.

The crocodile Of the Nile differs yer,
little from that of our own northern
rivers, which Is generally termed "alli
; gator" though In reality true croco
die. The head of true alligator /.
broader and shorter than that of tn,
crocodile. There Is also considerable
difference in the teeth. and their dsposi
ton in the jaws The teeth OF the ALI
gator are unequal, and the larger OF thu
lower canine enters cavity In the upper
jaw, while that Of 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 OBJ
server there is little or no difference
| CrocodIles seem equally at home in salt
| or fresh water, while alligators don't APP
pear to relish, and rarely visit. salt
waters. The crocodile no doubt feeds
| largely upon fish, but as they grow older
| and stronger and require great quanti-
| ties of food, they Will, when hungry,
| attack anything from a sheep or kan
| CARGO to bullock, a big crocodile making
| short work Of bullock Weighing over
| half a ton. Some of these monsters
measure as much as twenty-seven feet
| In length, and possess immense strength,
| besides wonderful cunning and patience.
| It will lie in wait at any watering-plac
| frequented by animals, hardly distin-
| gushable from a log of wood. SO still
and impassive II has become. The ami
| NAL coming 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 its prey may be a heavy bullock
1t has little or no chance against its enc
my, which is specially provided by nature
with an arrangement that prevents the
water rushing down fits huge throat, even
though its jaws are fully distended
through holding its prey. Thus, after
few brief seconds, the unequal struggle
is over and the saurian takes the carcass
In tow to some favored locality. where
he can enjoy IL at his leisure.
In the early days at Port Darwin, N.
H., bathing in the open sea was forbidden,
owing to the danger from crocodiles,
there, and nearly everywhere else In
Australia, called alligators, though in
reality no true alligator exists in Aus
trala. A young trooper named Davis,
a fine swimmer, disregarded the general
order, and one morning early went for a
swim. Far out in the harbor he noticed
what he and others took to be a float
ing log. Many Of the northern trees float,
and are washed down in the wet season
to the open sea. Out went the strong
swimmer. nearer and nearer to the sup
posed log. until too late he recognized
his mistake, and that he was approach
ing instead of a log a huge and appa-
rently listless crocodile. But the know
ledge 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 backr" Ego back! and Davis did
make an attempt to retreat, and was
swimming manfully shoreward when the
huge brute flashed down upon him at a
terrific speed and, opening his great Jaws
to their utmost capacity came down
with smack that was heard even to
the shore, and inside their cruel grasp
was Trooper Davis's head. Then, with
the quickness common TO the saurian ii
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 conside-
rable time. Though this means failed,
the body was soon afterward found lying |
on a rock, or, rather a reef, some little |
distance from the scene of the accident. |
The lowering Of the boats and the noise |
or the beaten water had no doubt caused |
the monster 10 let go his prey.
Crocodiles at night time low and below /
just like cattle, especially like bulls, and |
have spent some nights In an open boat |
In Cambridge Gulf, Northwestern Aus
tralia, where the whole place seemed to
be alive with them, and what with their l
splashes and cries, the weirdness Of the
WhC1Q M hail ole fkxrl
as they at times rocked the boat, sleep |
was impossible, for there are several in
stances on record where crocodiles have
taken or have attempted TO take men
from out Of camps and boats. A poor fell
low named Reed, the mate or second
mate Of the Gulnan, had gone In his yes
sci TO some river in Carpentaria Gulf-I
believe the Roper. The vessel was at an
Choir near the mouth of the river The
mate Reed had been dispatched in
charge of a. watering party, and was some
distance UP the river in a large open
boat. Water had been obtained and they
were all ready for return to the ship.
All being made snug. the tired fellows
turned I'm, having made their camp in the
boat. The night was a very fine one, the
moon shining brightly, when toward mid
night the sleeping camp was aroused by
some terrific shrieks. These were the cries
of poor Reed, who, enveloped in his bed
ling and mosquito curtains, was being
borne off by a crocodile. 1t is said by
those who knew him well and accompa-
Med him on this and other previous trips,
hat he had the habit of sleeping with
MS foot on the gunwale of the boat, and
no doubt this afforded the crocodile an
,asier opportunity of selling him. All
hat night and great part of next day
vas spent in searching for the missing
mans body, but without success.
The crocodile has a remarkable eye. 1t
AN arrange the pupil to vertical or hori-
.ontal position at will TO suit its require
nent by day or night. 1t has a special
natural protection to the eye, and through
| duct" escapes the fluid when the mon
'ter weeps'; in fact, he is peculiar brute
lltogether, with many special gifts be-
iides his huge jaws that help TO make Of
lin the terror he is.
The crocodile lays a large number OF
'ggs, which are remarkably small for so
arge reptile. being just a shade larger
han those of the domestic duck. Its nest
S a huge mound of long grass, leaves.
eeds, flags, and a kind OF broad-leafed
rass, built TO the height Of four or five
eet, with circumference OF from thirty
o forty feet, and always near water. The
lorthern crocodile lays its eggs in Janu-
ry or February. Neither parent does
my sitting. The eggs are deposited to
he number of forty or fifty near the top
Il the mound. which looks just like an
haycock. The rain (and 1t rains
( this time OF the year every day. and
he hot sun create a great heat in the