Ce. IX. SOUTH AMERICA. 189 



by Providence in diniinifhing thp number oí tbefe 

 defiru¿live creatures, not only by tbe gallinazos, but 

 even by the males themfelves Indeed, neither the 

 river nor the nei;::;h bou ring fields would otherwile be 

 fufficient to eoniain them; for, notwithltanding the 

 ravages (>f ihefc two iníaúableencmies, their numbers 

 c-ui hardly be imagined. 



Tpiese alligators are the groat deflroyers of tbe fifli 

 in this riA'cr, it being their moft fafe and general food; 

 nor areihey wanting inaddrefs to fatisfy their deiires; 

 eight or ten, as it were by compadl, draw up at the 

 inouth of a river or creek, wliilft others go a conñder- 

 able diflance up the river, and chafe the iilli down- 

 wards, by which none of any bignefs efcape them. 

 The alligators, being unable to eat under water, on 

 feizing a fifh, raife their heads above the furface, and 

 by degrees draw the filh from their jaws, and cliew 

 it for deglutition. After latisfying their appetite, they 

 retire to reil on the banks of the river. 



V/hen they cannot find fiih to appeafe their hunger, 

 thev betake themfelves to the meadows borderincr on 



•I D 



the banks, and devour calves and colts; and, in order 

 to be more lecurc, take the opportunity of the night, 

 that they may furpriie i hem in thrir ileep ; and it is 

 oblerved, that thole alligators which have once tafted 

 flelh, become fo fond of it, as never to take up with 

 iifh but in cafes of neceihty. There are even too 

 many melancholy inttances of their devouring the 

 human fpeeies, efpeeially children, who, from the in- 

 attention natural to their age, have been without doors 

 after it is dark ; and though at no great diñance, 

 theíe voracious animals have dared to attack them, 

 and having once feized them, to make fure of ther?; 

 prey againil that alhftance which the cricks of the 

 victim never fail to bring, haften into tlic water, 

 where they immediately drown it, and then return to 

 the furface, and devour it at leifure. 



Their 



