EGGS THAT CROAK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10925, 14 November 1913, Page 1

EGGS THAT CROAK.

EMBRYO CROCODILES' SIGNALS TO THEIR MOTHER. That young unhatehed crocodiles -itter an audible croaking cry within the eggs in which they are laid is averred by '•' Knowledge," and it adds that the cry is so loud and distinct that it can bo heard when the eggs are buried in one or two yards of sand. Dr W. A. Lamboru litis recently tested the fact at Lagos, on the West African coast. He heard a croaking noise from below a dry path, and digging in the path to "investigate the cause, he discovered thirteen crocodileseggs at a. depth of about eighteen inches. All the young crocodiles hatched out within half an hour of being dug up. So far back as 1899 Dr Voeltzkow noticed that unhatched Madagascar crocodiles uttered a cry from tlie egg at a depth of two yards, and that any shock, as of a heavy tread near hie egg, caused the baby crocodiles to produce tins sound, "with the mouth closed, as we produce hiccough sounds.'' in this way they inform the tornado crocodile, when she visits tuo nest, that they want her aid. whereupon she scrapes the sand away and they emerge.