19 



The genus is characterized by the following peculiarities : — The tail is corupressed or 

 broadest vertically ; the posterior feet are wholly or partly palmated ; the tongue attached 

 to the mouth, even to its very edges, without being in the least extensible ; a single range 

 of simple iioiuted teeth. There are five toes on the front, four on the hind feet, only three 



CROCODILE, SIXTEEN FEET LONO, F0RMEI;LV AIJVK IN THE AljrARIUM. 



toes of each foot being provided with claws. The body, above and below, ;ind the entire 

 length of the tail, are covered witli square scales or plates, most of those on the back having 

 ridges or spines of various lengths. Two ridges of spines, forming a double deutated line, 

 are placed at the base of the tail, which subsequently unite or form a shigle ridge on the 

 remainder of its length. The ears are externally closed by two fleshy slips ; tlie nostrils form 

 a long narrow canal, which opens interiorly at the back of tlie thi'oat. The eyes are 

 provided with tliree lids ; and under the throat are two small pouches which secret a strong 

 musky substance. Cuvier has divided the genus into three subgenera, viz., gavials, having 

 an elongated, narrow beak or snout, generally adorned witli a lump or knob on its upper 

 extremit^y ; cui/mans or alliqnfors, wit\\ broad snouts, and having four lower teeth to fit into 

 holes excavated for them in the npi)er jaw : and crocodiles proper, having the head oblong, 

 twice as long as liroad, and the four long lower teeth jmssing by grooves and not entering 

 by cavities into the upper jaw. The gavials are most common in, if not peculiar to, the great 

 rivers of India ; alligators are confined to America, and crocodiles to Africa and Australia, 

 and some of the South Sea Islands. On shore, their shortness of limb and great length and 

 weight of body prevent them chas'ng their prey, but in tlie water they can progress with great 

 swiftness. In" attacking cattle, or human beings, they are said to first strike and disable them 

 with the tail, in which they have enormous strength, and then seize them with their jaws. 



The females make their nests in a curious manner upon the banks of rivers and lagoons, 

 generally in the marshes ; they are obtuse cones, generally about 4 feet high and 4 or 5 feet in 

 diameter at the base, built of mud and grass. A floor of such mortar is first spread upon the 

 ground, on which a layer of eggs having hard shells and larger than those of a common hen are 



