Life, 1928-06-14 · page 11 of 42
Life — June 14, 1928 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a humorous natural history feature about alligators and crocodiles, playing on their similar appearances. The article explains the differences between the two reptiles through illustrations and rhyming verse—notably that alligators have broader snouts and bigger bodies than crocodiles. The satire here appears directed at *journalistic enterprise itself*: one caption mockingly notes "the national lack of journalistic enterprise" regarding a crocodile sighting. The piece pokes fun at sensationalized nature reporting and the obsessive documentation of wildlife trivia. The numerous detailed illustrations of alligator and crocodile anatomy, behavior, and commercial uses (belts, bags, gaiters) underscore how thoroughly—almost absurdly—Life magazine treats this zoological comparison, turning a simple distinction into elaborate entertainment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AL—CRO—LI—C O—G A-DILE’— TOR De. ther striking appearance of our subject ae being howrithed on inch-worms. H! Behold the Alligator, with his nobby coat of mail from his nasal ventilator to the ceasing OF his tail. Now the Gator’s occupation is to prosterate around with an eye for sustentation, submarine or on the ground. / Awful rare form of Crocodile snare. Os snare. Crocodiles and Alligators are so much alike to me thet the difference between them totals less than I can see Here’s a good denominator (Since they’re so alike in style), call them either “Crocogator” or the other, W"Allidile”. tical unheard Of at lear bye Gator peel is used for gaiters, reticules and bags and belts; tote-‘ems for peregrinators, +studded swell with nobby welts. ae Gators are a big edition or some cussed little lizard needing added composition to garage his bigger gizzard, well p! of 2 slight! 24 minute: er attempti ing. So race is notmes | alligator’s epi nis. A quite stray Crocodile cha: on the beach at Etah, July 2, of news hitherto unpublis! national lack of journalistic enter the scientific reason that the Gator’s skin is bigger than the lizard’s is because he’s got a great deal bigger figure. |Striking appearance of a | weeping hirsutooticus or [bearded alligator, if any | the Crocogator’s teary but it’s not from inner seething; please to recollect, my dearie, how you wept when you were teething, cRocobiLe pEteicres } i crocoone PetticLes Bale upon bale of crocodile pellicles on the Quay at Tillamook, awaiting shipment about 2PM. or February. Crocogators come from egglets, like a chicken or a rooster, but with twice as many leglets. Anyhow, Lhear they useter. +This refers to the baggage, not to the passengers. comicbooks.com