The names were given by explorers, who didn’t know the difference between crocodiles and alligators. I think much of the detailed survey work round the Top End was done by John Lort Stokes, who commanded “H.M.S.Beagle” after Captain Fitzroy retired – and who named Port Darwin after his former ship-mate Charles. (There is a good book about this expedition called “Mariners are Warned” by Marsdan Horden. Well worth reading.) I don’t think the sailors were great on zoology, because they were very alarmed by mobs of Flying-foxes, which they referred to as “Vampires”.
Anthea Fleming
On 20/07/2012 10:18 AM, Chris Lloyd wrote: > I am not sure it is relevant but we saw a raucous group of about five flying > around the South Alligator last Tuesday week. > > > > Off topic but why, after we succeeded in overthrowing US imperialism with > Kokoda Track (nee Trail) and Christidis and Boles have corrected our Latin > declensions, do we tolerate all these rivers with names from the Louisiana > bayous? East Crocodile River anyone? > > > > Chris Lloyd > > chris.lloyd@wiyanga.com.au > > Logo v5 > > > > > > > =============================== > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > =============================== > ===============================
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