BABY CROCODILES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 14

BABY CROCODILES.

MOTHER. AND FAMILY OF TEN FROM THE NILE. Ten little crocodiles, accompanied by their Bft. mother and five .eggs, have arrived at the London Zoo from the Nile, states A.E.H. in the Daily Chronicle. To look at the broad grins upon their countenances you would think that the babies, who are scarcely ten inches long, ,regafd the adventure as a great ioke; but they are really very vicious, hissing and’ snapping at the keeper should lie dare to handle them. Compared with the sombre hues of the remainder, one of them is quite a dandy in his way, with conspicuous yellow and black stripes, who> seems to hold himself aloof from liis commonplace brethren. The five precious eggs, none of which exceeds that of a goose egg in size, a.re buried in damp sand near th© hot-water pipes. If all goes well the embryo crocodiles will one day cut through the shells with the "egg-tooth” which they carry for a day or two at the end of their snouts, and join th© other baby "crocs,” in the Tortoise House. In a state of nature they would, upon emergence, be conducted to water by their mother after her. long and zealous guard of the sand-pit which formed the nest; hut at- the Zoo the keeper will perform this duty. The youngsters can, at any rate, congratulate themselves that they will not fall victims to the vultures, hawks, ichneumons and other enemies which would probably make a meal of them were they in their African home.