With Flashli-ht and Rifle -* 



line I had tiirown, ready to promi^t me at the critical 

 moment. He had sworn vengeance on " mamba," and 

 danced with glee every time I managed to catch or kill 

 one of the beasts. 



The contents of the stomachs usually C(jnsisted of 

 bones from mammals and hshes. Besides, there was in 

 every stomach a large number of ])ieces ot c|uartz, which 

 had either been ground quite round before swallowing 

 or had undergone this operation in the stomach. In 

 any case they were necessary tor the complete process 

 of digestion. These pieces ot (]uartz were sometimes 

 quite large — about the size of an apple. In one of the 

 animals I found a vulture, whole and entire, which had 

 been swallowed unmasticated. As the bird's skin was 

 spoilt I threw it into the river. Crocodiles are capable 

 of swallowing immense objects in this way. In 1900, 

 during the time of drought and tamine, I killed crocodiles 

 whose stomachs contained liuman bones swallowed ahnost 

 uncrushed. 



It is most interesting but very difficult to watch the 

 real lite of the crocodile, about which unfortimately so 

 little is yet known. Even the younger ones are extremely 

 sh\- and cautious. Shoukl they happen to have scrambled 

 on to the branches overhanging the water the\- di\e at 

 once and remain out of sight. The older they grow the 

 shyer the\- become. The\- keep in such dccj) water that 

 they are able to sia'ze their prc-\" without exposing 

 themselves to view. I have often found crocodiles 

 lurking neai" tlie drinkingqilaces of iho wild herds, King 

 in wait for tlicm. 



294 



