2384 CROCODILES, DINOSAURS, AND FLYING DRAGONS 



only from seven to eight inches in length the crocodiles themselves are, however, 

 devoured by vultures, who seize them on the shore or in the shallow water. It was 

 curious, observes Humboldt, to see the address with which the little reptiles de- 

 fended themselves for a time against their aggressors. As soon as they perceived 

 the enemy, they raised themselves on their fore-paws, bent their backs, and lifted 

 up their heads, opening their wide jaws. They turned continually, though slowly, 

 toward their assailant to show him their teeth, which, even when the animal had 

 but recently issued from the egg, were very long and sharp. Often, while the at- 



LONG-NOSED CROCODILE. 

 (One- twentieth natural size. ) 



tention of one of the young crocodiles was wholly engaged by one of the vultures, 

 another seized the favorable opportunity for an unforeseen attack, pouncing on the 

 unfortunate reptile by the neck and bearing it off in the air. The anecdote told by 

 Humboldt of a native of Calabozo being awakened in the middle of the night by one 

 of these crocodiles suddenly breaking through the mud of the floor of his hut, 

 beneath which it had retired for the dry season, is probably familiar to most of our 

 readers. 



