Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-08-08
|SAURIANS ARE HUGE. /
AUSTRALIAN cRocoDILEs GROW
TO IMMENSE SIZE.

AUSTRALIAN cRocoDlLES GROW
TO IMMENSE SIZE.
Possesses Enormous Strength and
Are Things of Terror to Fish and
Animals-Large Bullock Stands No
Chance In Fighting One of Them.
Tie crocodile Of the Nile differs very
of Australia, which is generally termed
alligator" though in reality a true
crocodile. The head of true alligator
Is broader and shorter than that of the
crocodile. There is also considerable
difference In the teeth and their dispo-
sition in the jaws. The teeth Of the
alligator are unequal, and the larger Of
the lower CANNES enters cavity in the
upper jaw, while that of crocodile
simply fits into groove on the outside
of the upper jaw, leaving the tooth
clearly visible when the mouth of the
monster is closed. There are also DIFF
ferences in the webbing of the toes and
the form of the legs, though to the gen.
eral observer there is little or no differ
ence. Crocodiles seem equally at home
in salt or fresh water, while alligators
do not appear to relish, and rarely visit,
salt water. Crocodiles no doubt feed
largely upon fish, but as they grow old
er and stronger and require great guam
titles of food, they will, when hungry,
Nff0Rk anvf1infy p1, I.
CARGO to bullock, a big crocodile max
ing short work of bullock weighing
over half ton.
Some crocOdiles measure as much as
twenty-seven feet in length and possess
immense strength, besides wonderful
cunning and patience. They will lie in
waltz at watering place frequented
by animals, hardly distinguishable
from log of wood, so still and passive
have they become. The unwary victim
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 prey into deep water, where, even
though it be heavy bullock, 1t has
little or no chance against its enemy,
which is specially provided by nature
with an arrangement that prevents the
water rushing down its huge throat,
even though the jaws are fully distend-
ed 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 To-
cality, where he can enjoy 1t at hfs
leisure.
Crocodiles at night time low and bel
low just like cattle, especially like
bulls, and have spent some nights in
an open boat in Cambridge Gulf, north
western Australia, where the 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 US they at times rocked
the boat, sleep was impossible, for
there are several instances on record
where crocodiles have taken or have at
tempted 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 to some river in
Carpentaria Gulf. The vessel was ut
anchor near the mouth of the river.
The mate, Reed, had been dispatched
in charge of watering party, and was
some distance up the river in large
open boat. Water had been obtained,
and they were all ready for a return to
the ship. All being made snug, the
tired fellows turned in, having made
i thnfys ~ In 1,a ,3rrI
a very fine one, the moon shining
brightly, when toward midnight the
sleeping camp was aroused by some
terrific shrleks. These were the cries
| Of poor Reed, who, enveloped in his
bedding and mosquito curtains, was
being borne of by crocodile. 1t is
said by those who knew him well and
accompanied him on this and other pre-
vious trips that he had habit of Sleep
ing with his foot on the gunwale of the
boat, and no doubt this afforded the
crocodile an easier opportunity of seiz-
ing him. All that night and a great
part of the next day was spent In
searching for the missing mans body,
but without success.
The crocodile has u remarkable eve.
1t can arrange the pupil to vertical
or horizontal position at will to suit its
requirements by day or night. 1t has
special natural protection to the eye,
and through duct" escapes the fluid
when the monster weeps. In fact, he
is peculiar brute altogether, with
many special gifts besides his huge
Jaws that help to make of him the
terror that he is. The crocodile lays
large number of eggs, which are re-
markedly small for SO large reptile,
being just shade larger than those Of
the domestic duck. Its nest is huge
mound of long grass, leaves, reeds,
flags and kind Of broad-leafed grass,
built to the height of four or five feet,
with circumference of from thirty to
forty feet, and always near water. The
northern crocodile lays its eggs in Jan
uary or February. Neither parent does
any sitting. The eggs are deposited to
the number Of forty or fifty near the
top of the mound, which looks just like
an ordinary haycock. The rain-and it
rains at this time Of the year every day
and the hot sun create great heat
in the mound, which matches the eggs.
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