. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 460 CROCODILIA with just the nostrils exposed, or in search of food, frogs being their favourite prey, while their main sustenance consisted of " lights," with an occasional mouse, or a piece of solid meat by way of an entrie. Small pieces were bolted. The tough " lights," namely lungs with the windpipe and blood-vessels, were causes of great quarrels. Two or three would get hold of a lump of this kind, tearing at it, and twisting and rolling over in opposite directions. The supply of warm water came through a stout pipe of red indi
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. 460 CROCODILIA with just the nostrils exposed, or in search of food, frogs being their favourite prey, while their main sustenance consisted of " lights," with an occasional mouse, or a piece of solid meat by way of an entrie. Small pieces were bolted. The tough " lights," namely lungs with the windpipe and blood-vessels, were causes of great quarrels. Two or three would get hold of a lump of this kind, tearing at it, and twisting and rolling over in opposite directions. The supply of warm water came through a stout pipe of red india-rubber, and this was an irresistible attraction to the crocodiles. On many a morning the tube was found twisted into a knot, one of the creatures having spent hours in chewing it and in trying to wrench it off In order to aid digestion they swallowed pebbles. The most favourable temperature of the water was 85° F.; if below 75° F. they refused to eat, but a continued exposure to 60° F. did not hurt them. When the temperature rose above 95° F. they left the water, although means had to be taken to prevent them from lying on the hot-water pipes. C. niloticus s. vulgaris.—The pre- maxillo-maxillary suture on the palate is W-shaped. The nasal bones form only a small part of the posterior border of the nasal groove. There are eighteen or nine- teen upper and fifteen lower teeth to each side. In old specimens some of the anterior mandibular teeth perforate the premaxillae, as indicated in Fig. 109, and they even pierce through the integument so as to be visible from above. The Fig. 109.—Dorsal view of the nuchals are composed of four large scutes, 'f"^°''V,''^ "^7?•'""'" with a smaller one on each side and or CrocoailifjS niloticus^ m whi£h most of the bony Sometimes One behind, and there is a row xfw a'' ''""''''"^' of smaller pieces across the occiput. The dorsal shield contains six to eight principal longitudinal rows. The fing
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1895
