131 



In the Loudon Clay of our own country, the remains of the 

 three species have been found together, hut the reptilian fishes of 

 the Lower Clialk lived and died at a much earlier period. 



Crocodiles appear to swallow pebhles to cure indigestion. 

 Mr. Griffiths, the fossil collector, found in the Lower Chalk at 

 Folkestone, the remains of an Ichthyosaurus, with about two 

 handfuls of pebbles. Sir Samiiel Baker mentions that a crocodile 

 caught in the Nile was found, wlien opened, to have within its 

 stomacli a quantity of pebbles, and a number of bangles. The 

 latter had probably belonged to one or more girls whom it had 

 swallowed ; perhaps it took the pebbles as a remedy for the bangles, 

 or girls, that had disagreed with it. 



On one of my natural history excursions on the borders of 

 Nepaul (Northern India), my dobie (Auglico washerman) had 

 heard of, but had never seen, a crocodile, and he earnestly 

 requested that he might accompany me. This request having 

 been acceded to, this well filled-out, sleek man, with serene 

 countenance, presented himself one morning ready for the expedi- 

 tion, arrayed in his best garments of spotless white, with a broad 

 silver belt set witli jewels (the pride and distinguishing badge of 

 his caste). He followed me through the jungle to the river's bank, 

 which there rose perpendicularly to about twelve feet above the 

 Avater, at a distance of perhaps twenty feet from it. I chose a 

 comfortable spot, under the shadow of the wall-like bank, for 

 although it was the cold season, it was quite hot enough, to make 

 shade agreeable to a European, but my follower preferred to bask 

 in the sun's warmth, and sat down close to the water's edge. 



I pointed out to him, on a sandbank near the middle of the 

 river, some crocodiles, that, like himself, had sought the sunshine, 

 and were reposing in its warmth. We watched them gradually 

 drop off to sleep, and saw them gape as human beings not 

 infrequently do. The crocodile can do this to a greater extent 

 than most other creatures. 



There was then enacted before our eyes, that curious fact in 

 natural history that has been so frequently received with incred- 

 ulity. Little birds of the Plover tribe hopped fearlessly iuto their 

 mouths, performing the office of living toothpicks. Perhaps 

 there were a dozen of these reptiles in sight, of which three or 

 four might be muggers, and the rest gavials. 



Whilst our attention was thus occupied, there was a swirl of 

 the waters close to us, that is, close to my dobie, and out of its 

 turbid depths there rose a monstrous form with extended jaws ; 

 I could see right down its horrid throat, a wide, deep cavern of 



