The reptile book; a comprehensive popularised work on the structure and habits of the turtles, tortoises, crocodilians, lizards and snakes which inhabit the United States and northern Mexico (1915) (14781075464)

Identifier: reptilebookcompr1915ditm (find matches)
Title: The reptile book; a comprehensive popularised work on the structure and habits of the turtles, tortoises, crocodilians, lizards and snakes which inhabit the United States and northern Mexico
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Ditmars, Raymond Lee, 1876-1942
Subjects: Reptiles -- North America
Publisher: New York, Doubleday, Page
Contributing Library: MBLWHOI Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MBLWHOI Library



Text Appearing Before Image:
Copyright, 1907, by Doubleday, Fage & CompanyALLIGATOR. Alligator misstssippiensts. In all o* the large rivers of the South the Alligator has been practically exterminated. It is yet moderately abundant inlakes and lagoons surrounded by heavy timber or swampy areas.
Text Appearing After Image:
Copyright, 1907* by Doubleday, Page & CompanyAMERICAN CROCODILE. Crocodilus amencanus. The extreme southerr portion of the Florida peninsula is the only portion of the United States inhabited by a truecrocodile. This species is abundant in Mexico and Central America. The Crocodilians throat of the alligator is furnished with a valve-like develop-ment, the reptile is able not only to open its mouth, but to breakthe bones of its prey while under water in a series of masticatorymovements and without a drop of water passing beyond thevalve, which is voluntarily opened and closed. To swallow itsfood the alligator must raise its head above the water. Thisit sometimes does by lurching suddenly upward while in deepwater and swallowing with a single gulp. It more frequentlycomes to shallow places to swallow the prey. In this habit itdiffers from other semi-aquatic reptiles—like the turtles. Thelatter not only swallow their food beneath the surface, but areunable to eat otherwise. The wri