Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-08-10
The Florida Crocodile.

indigenous 10 FIO!lua. Inc u4''vIe"OV
between the crocodile and the slliga-
tor is very marked the head Of the
crocodile Is longer and narrower, the
teeth fewer and winter, the two lower
front tusks fitting into holes in the up
per iaws-a feature absent in the ALI
gator. The crocodile is also more hex-
iblv built, is more ferocious and far
more pugnacious 1t is also more
crafty and cunning and keen eyed IN
the pursuit OF its prey. Florida wa
ters aboundiug in food, the crocodile
has the ferocity of It's nature excited
by hunger. But when alarmed 1t
plunges into the river or bay and has
tens seaward at full speed until out Of
all danger af a possible foe Its great
speed in the water Is owing to Its pow
eriul tail, which propels 1t after the
manner Of a man scullng boat 1t
prefers flight to fight, yet if compelled
to defend itself becomes toeman
worthy Of the bo,iest hunter. The
feet are webbed and it can also paddle
gently along with them. The teeth
ale not made sor masticating, for when
possible it swallows its prey entire.
They are hollow at the base and con-
tain the crowns Of new and larger
ones, so as the saurian increases in size
he continues to drop the old teeth aud
new ones take their places.
The ugly and ferocious crocodile is
provided with throat valve, which
efectually prevents the water from
running down it, and also enables it
to secure and drown Its prey under
water. The nostrils placed at the
extremity of its long nose, permit It
to breathe at its ease, while the untor-
tunate animal captured browns be-
meath the surface OF the water. More
over, it can exist considerable length
of time without breathing. In this
way the reptile is able to conceal It.
self when it suspects danger. The
nest Of the crocodile differs from that
Of his cousin, the alligator, and shows
a great similarity to te turtles. The
eggs are laid in a hole and then
smoothly covered with sand, the pre-
caution making them difficult to find.
A year ago a crocodile nest was dis
covered by a hunter, and the eggs
presented to the Smithsonian lnstltu-
tion and the Philadelphia Academy Of
Natural Science. A few Of the eggs
were boxed in sand by the hunter,
with the result of Matching one baby
"Crocodilus Americanus. The little
wriggler is very valuable, az it is said
to be one Of three captive specimens
anywhere.
To the "Conchs, or wreckers, who
live on the coral keys, the sight Of the
crocodile excites but little interest, for
ugly and dangerous as lie looks, be
has been taught by them that man is
to be feared. These natives claim
that they have seen crocodiles eight
cen feet long in tn. lower end Of the
Biscayne bay.
The crocodile being an expert swim
mer, lives largely on fish in Florida
waters, but the testimony Of old hun
ters proves that its cunning nature is
the same, whether 1t be the American
us or the much dreaded reptile Of the
Nile. 1t does not attack openly,
neither will it go ashore for its prey,
but will watch for hours for animals or
birds to come to the water to drink
then, diving rapidly, it appears under
its victim and drags it beneath the
surface. Should the intended prey be
too far from the water to be reached
by the huge mouth, it strikes blow
with the tail and knocks it into the
water
Many herons and other water birds
Of Florida meet a sudden death from
thi. crafty reptile, whose maneuyers
would do credit to the cunning fox.