World Children's Story Classics: Family Stories

Chapter 3 Crocodile Tears

It was a hot summer day, a buffalo went to a pond with lush aquatic plants and jumped down to cool off. While it was enjoying the coolness of the water, a crocodile rushed out and threw it into the water.

After the crocodile killed the buffalo, it began to chew. The strange thing is that the crocodile cried while eating.

Is the crocodile feeling sorry for the buffalo's death? "How hypocritical! Weeping after eating buffalo! Big villain," said a sparrow angrily.He saw everything that happened just now.

"Hypocrite!" said a starling.He also saw what had just happened.

Their accusations were heard by the crocodile.The crocodile was very aggrieved. He said, "Although I am bad, I am not hypocritical. As for why I cry while eating, please ask a zoologist!"

After hearing what the crocodile said, the sparrow and starling felt that it was necessary to clarify this issue, so they called in a zoologist.After listening to their narration, the zoologist smiled and said:
"The physiological structure of the crocodile is different from that of other animals. The excess salt in the body of other animals is excreted through the kidneys, but the kidneys of the crocodile are not fully developed. Therefore, the crocodile has a gland under the eyes to help it excrete salt. When When the crocodile opens its mouth to eat, the eye muscles are affected, and the glands start to excrete salt water, which looks like the crocodile is crying!"

(End of this chapter)