Show NN I I 1 i i ii i i Liza Lizards Feast Royally on Eggs of Crocodile I have o sometimes watched monitors or African water lIzar lizards s at their work of robbing crocodile nests of ot their eggs C. C R R. R S. S Pitman writes in Asia Magazine The antics of ot these prehistoric prehistoric prehistoric looking creatures lles which are usually usually usually us us- about four feet long are most entertaining On more than one occasion when I have been 1 lying In concealment observing observing observing ob ob- ob- ob serving the behavior of orthe the guardian females on the breeding grounds I have seen a monitor deliberately provoke pro pro- provoke voke oke a n crocodile until it rushes off In pursuit Into the water In the tine meantime meantime meantime mean mean- time the tine monitors monitor's mate arrives on the tine scene excavates the nest with i great haste and begins gobbling up the eggs Soon it Is joined by No 1 which had only tal taken en to the tine water ater as a ruse They hey usually succeed in disposing of ot the tine greater portion of tine the eggs before the return of the rightful owner Even when forced to withdraw they will wilt decamp each with an egg in Its mouth |