54 LORICATA. — CROCODILID^. 



and each being thus gradually pushed out from 

 below by a successor ready to supply its place, 

 the jaws of the Crocodiles present, at all ages, 

 their formidable array of pointed teeth in un- 

 diminished number. 



The Crocodiles, as we have said, are fierce and 

 voracious, and prove destructive, not only to 

 quadrupeds, (and those of large size), but also to 

 man himself. Cuvier states that they are unable 

 to swallow in the water, but this seems to be 

 unconfinned. They do, however, commonly re- 

 sort to the shore for the purpose of devouring 

 those animals which they have seized and drowned, 

 dragging them out again after they have begun to 

 decay. On land their motions are stiff, ungainly, 

 and embarrassed, and a peculiar structure of the 

 vertebrcE precludes them from being able to turn 

 themselves with facihty. Yet they are able to 

 bound forward with considerable agility, springing 

 to a distance which would scarcely be expected 

 from creatures so unwieldy. 



In the water they swdm with swiftness both 

 upon and beneath the surface; here they know 

 themselves to be at home, and usually leap into 

 the water with precipitation if surprised on land 

 by even the distant appearance of a man. 



These are not only the largest of all reptiles, but 

 are among the most gigantic of animals. Some 

 are reported to have attained a length of twenty- 

 five feet, and it seems probable that they are long- 

 lived, and that their bulk continues to increase 

 with years. The mouth is enormous ; and the 

 numerous pointed teeth, thirty or more on each 

 side of each jaw, are so disposed as to fit into the 

 interstices of each other. As the lips are alto- 



