CHAP, xin THE CROCODILE 255 



of a crocodile when it rushes towards its prey, but when it is 

 considered that fish constitute the ordinary food, it may readily be 

 imagined that the maximum speed of the reptile must be sufficient 

 to overtake the swiftest swimmer. 



The crocodile of the Nile is the same as those of Ceylon and 

 India : in the latter Empire it is generally distinguished as the 

 " mugger," but it is inferior in size to those of Ceylon and Africa, 

 with a few exceptions. 



The teeth of this species are specially arranged for seizing, as 

 they interlock, and the two longest of the lower jaw penetrate 

 through corresponding holes, the points appearing through the top 

 of the upper jaw, above the snout. 



There are thirty-four teeth in the upper, and an equal number 

 in the lower jaw. These are hollow, and they are renewed by 

 others which are contained within them ; by degrees they develop 

 into a full growth, and at a subsequent period they push out the 

 old teeth and usurp their place, to be themselves displaced upon 

 the same principle in later years. 



This special provision of nature for replenishing teeth would 

 infer that the crocodile is a creature which surpasses all others in 

 the duration of life. This is probably a true presumption, except- 

 ing the tortoise, which is in some eastern countries the emblem of 

 longevity. There is a tortoise in a garden at Mutwal, near 

 Colombo, which is known to be 150 years old, as it had been for 

 a long time in possession of the Dutch before the British annexa- 

 tion of Ceylon ; but its age, when first captured, remains a mystery. 



The fore feet of the crocodile somewhat resemble the form of a 

 short human hand ; these are armed with five long horny claws, 

 sometimes measuring 4 inches, and are used for holding the prey 

 whilst tearing it with the teeth. The claws of the hind feet are 

 shorter, and are only four in number. It is a mistake to suppose 

 that a crocodile seizes and immediately swallows its victim ; it 

 may do so in the case of small animals, such as fawns which have 

 been captured while drinking from the river's bank, or dogs caught 

 while swimming, but large animals are dragged beneath, and held 

 below the surface until drowned ; they are then dragged away to 

 some favourite hiding-place and devoured at leisure. 



The male is difficult to distinguish from the female, as the 

 penis and testicles are concealed inside, within an aperture that 

 would be accepted as the female parts. Unlike the snakes, which 

 are double, the crocodile has a single penis. The male produces 

 four glands of musk, two of which are upon either side, beneath 

 the jaws, and two upon either side of the groin. These are highly 



