of North Carolina. 135 



their young ones. The old ones throw up Banks of Mold in 

 the wet Swamps, in form of a Sugar-Loaf, near the sides of 

 the fresh Water-Rivers and Creeks, whereon they lay twenty 

 or thirty Eggs, if not more, in the Season, where they remain 

 'till such time as they are Hatched, and then they tumble into 

 the Waters, and fend for themselves in the like manner as the 

 young Frogs do : I am perswaded they are one of the largest 

 Creatures in the World to be produced out of so small a Be- 

 ginning as an Egg not so large as a Goose s, for they some- 

 times exceed eighteen Foot in length, they have Sixty Teeth, 

 Sixty turning Joints, and are said to live no longer than 

 Sixty Years. They are very crafty and subtile in taking 

 their Prey in Waters, whereon they float as if dead, or like 

 a log of Wood, 'till they come within reach of their Prey, 

 which they will most nimbly seize by leaping upon them, and 

 then dive under Water with it, which they quickly devour. 

 They are likewise very destructive and mischievous to Wairs 

 made for catching Fish, into which they come to prey on the 

 Fish caught in them, from whence they cannot readily dis- 

 charge themselves, so break the Wairs in pieces, being a Crea- 

 ture very large, and of great Strength. It is almost impos- 

 sible to kill them with a Gun, except you chance to hit them 

 in or about the Eyes, or under the Belly, that part being softer 

 than any part of the Body ; the rest of the Skin being so hard, 

 that it will resist a Bullet like Armour. They are very easily 

 avoided upon Land, being a very slow Creature, by reason of 

 the shortness of their Legs, and they cannot readily turn 

 themselves, for their Bodies are so stiff and hard, that they 

 are obliged to go streight forward, so that they may be avoided 

 by the least turning out of their way, but they are very nimble 

 and active in leaping either upon Land or Water. Some of 

 these Creatures afford a great deal of Mush, and when their 



Tails 



