THE CROCODILE. u 



a long detour ; hence an active man or an animal of any 

 kind can easily escape it, unless suddenly seized or knocked 

 over by the sweep of its tail. 



The crocodile possesses many amiable qualities. It is 

 an excellent mother.' It does not indeed sit upon its eggs 

 like a hen, but this is simply because it knows that the 

 heat of the sand in which it buries them is amply sufficient 

 to hatch them. The earlier crocodiles, which doubtless 

 followed the example of birds, would speedily discover 

 that what was good for the goose was not good for the 

 crocodile, and that while but a small supply of heat passed 

 through their armour, its weight was disastrous to the well- 

 being of the eggs. The crocodile, however, carefully guards 

 the buried eggs, and as soon as they are hatched watches over 

 the young with anxious and continued care ; she escorts 

 them to the water, and once there protects them to the 

 utmost of her power from all assailants, among whom, it 

 must be admitted with regret, the male crocodile figures 

 prominently. This care on the part of the mother con- 

 tinues during many months of the young crocodile's life. 

 In spite of this, only a small proportion of them 'arrive at 

 maturity, for in their early days great numbers fall victims 

 to vultures and other birds during their rambles on shore. 

 Like all saurians, the crocodile is partial to warmth, and as 

 it is capable of prolonged fastings it is able to spend a 

 considerable portion of its life basking or asleep on the 

 sands in the sun. 



The crocodile's eye is provided with three distinct lids. 

 It is evident that this advantage admits of an extraordinary 

 variety of what may be called eye-action, and it is probable 

 that these animals are able to converse with each other 



