tyd J A M A 



movement on fhore is very flow 

 and difficult to him, from the 

 Ihortnefs of his legs, and the in- 

 cumbrance of his rail, which he 

 trails heavily after him. 



His eyes are placed on the 

 fummit of his head, for the con- 

 venience of feeing fifli and other 

 objefls above him, as he more 

 frequently lies at the bottom than 

 on the furface of the water. 



He has four mufky glands, 

 about the fize of a piftachia-nut, 

 two under the throat, and one on 

 each fide the anus. Thefe are 

 obferved in all of them indifcri- 

 minately, old or young. 



I C A. 



He makes a noife refembllng 

 the barking of a dog. 



His eyes are placed parallel to- 

 the aperture of the jaws. 



Haffelquift fays, there is iifoi- 

 liculus, or fmall bag, under the 

 (houlders of the old, full-grown 

 crocodiles of the Nile ; contain- 

 ing' a thick fubftance, which 

 fmells like mulk. But Dampier 

 affirms, that the American cro* 

 codile has no mu(ky glands. ; 



He is faid to utter a found re* 

 fembling the crying ofan infant 



.in diftrefs. Biit^f 

 The barking of the alligator may poflibly have been afligned 

 him as a decoy to the canine! fpecies,- of which he is remarkably 

 fond, as if they -were his favourite prey. Dogs are aflonifhingly 

 afraid of this animal, but are fecured from feJling into his clutches 

 (other wife than inadvertently) by the ftrong, mufky fcent which 

 he diffufes to a very confiderable diftance round him, whenever he 

 is repofmg on fhore, and which gives them timely warning. After 

 all, it does not appear that he is fo tremendous a moniter as the 

 ideas of timorous perfbns have pictured him; lince he is- naturally 

 a co\vard, difqualifi-ed fof quick purfuit, eafily detedled, and as 

 eafily avoided, except in the water, .where there is furely no ne- 

 ceflSty to ventufein his- way,. 



NOXIOUS 



