THE CROCODILE. 379 



confined to those regions where men are scarce, and 

 the art of civilization in a great measure unknown. 



To observe this formidable creature vested with all 

 its natural terrors, grown to an enormous size, and 

 propagated in surprising numbers, we must visit the 

 uninhabited regions of Africa and America. In those 

 vast rivers, which roll through extensive and desolate 

 countries, where cultivation and commerce have never 

 exerted their beneficial influence, and the most pow- 

 erful and ferocious animals exercise their strength and 

 rapacity uncontrolled by man, the crocodile reigns in 

 perfect security, terrible to every living creature that 

 enters the water, or approaches its margin. 



Although this animal admits of' several varieties, of 

 which the crocodile, properly so called, and the cay- 

 man, or alligator, appear to' be the principal; yet 

 these distinctions seem to be made rather by travel- 

 lers than by nature. The crocodile is, by them, con- 

 fined chiefly to the old, and the alligator to the new 

 continent; but the distinction of form and colour is 

 very trifling. All the animals of this tribe agree in 

 strength, size, and ferocity, and are justly considered 

 as objects of terror wherever they are found. 



Of this ferocious and formidable creature so often 

 mentioned by travellers, you will, my dear Sir, pro- 

 bably expect a description. 



The crocodile frequently grows to the size of twen- 

 ty feet in length, and live feet in circumference. 

 ome, it is said, have been found of the length of thir- 

 ty feet. The fore legs have the same parts and con- 

 formation as that of a man, each paw having five fin- 

 gers. The hind legs, including the thigh and the 

 foot, are about two feet two incites long. The hind. 

 paw is about nine inches long, divided into four toes, 

 united by a membrane or web, like those of a duck, 

 and armed with large -claws.- The head is long .arid 

 flat, and the eyes are very small.. You will, my dear 

 Sir, observe, that the dimensions here given,* are 

 taken from one of these animals which was dissected 

 by the Jesuits at Siam, and which was not one of the 

 very largest size, as its whole length did not exceed 



