CROCODILES. 55 



gether wanting, the teeth are \asible when the 

 mouth is closed ; hence the animal, even when 

 tranquil, seems grinning with rage. A similar 

 expression is communicated to the visage from 

 the eyes, which are placed obliquely near each 

 other, and have a peculiarly fiery glare. 



The compressed and dentelated tail, though from 

 its length and weight it impedes the motions of these 

 animals on the land, is yet an organ of the utmost 

 importance to them in the water, where it is a most 

 powerful instrument of progression, and influences 

 their aquatic habits much more than their webbed 

 hind feet. The latter are indeed used, when the 

 animal is paddling with a slow and gentle action ; 

 but in sudden and swift motion, as in escaping 

 from an object of alarm, or in energetic pursuit 

 of prey, alternate strokes with the tail upon the 

 element give the powerful impulse. On land, 

 also, the Crocodile is said to use this organ as an 

 efficient weapon of offence, dashing it from side 

 to side with swift contortions, when its weight, 

 its hard rough surface, and especially its saw-like 

 crests, render its strokes eminently formidable. 



Like the Turtles, the Crocodiles lay their eggs 

 in the sand, and leave them to be hatched by the 

 heat of the sun. The general number is from 

 eighty to a hundred : their size is about that of a 

 goose's egg, but their form is more oblong. 

 When we consider the vast bulk of the adult 

 animal, we may affirm that no creature exhibits 

 so great a disproportion between its youth and 

 age. The eggs are covered with a hard calcareous 

 shell, like that of birds' eggs, but more shining, 

 harder, and more brittle. 



