xin THE CROCODILE 257 



jaws would crush any human bone. As the sixty-eight teeth, 

 which are long and sharp-pointed, fit exactly into the interstices 

 between them, it may be imagined that such a rat-trap formation 

 would effectually preclude escape. The throat of a crocodile is not 

 only large, but is capable of great expansion, and, although the 

 habits of the creature usually permit the body of a victim to rest 

 in quiet until it is devoured in piecemeal, there are many exceptions 

 to the rule ; large crocodiles will swallow a small person without 

 the slower operation of dismemberment. Mr. Bennett, in his 

 excellent work upon Ceylon published in 1843, affords an example 

 of this swallowing capacity, which he himself witnessed: -"A 

 native in the act of bathing was seized by a crocodile and swallowed, 

 with the exception of the head and one hand, which were found 

 on the margin of the river ; from which it was inferred that the 

 poor victim had seen the animal approach, and had endeavoured 

 to save himself, but was overtaken just as he had grasped the 

 overhanging branch of a tree in the last fruitless effort to escape. 



" Immediately upon the report reaching the collector of the 

 district, James Agnew Farrel, Esq., he ordered a general search 

 for the amphibious monster ; which on the second day proved 

 successful ; for just as our picnic party was about to sit down to 

 dinner, two carts lashed together, and containing the body of the 

 animal, which was 17|- feet in length, were driven to the door. 

 We had it removed instantly to the sea-side, and opened ; when 

 the body of a native, already a mass of putrefaction, was taken 

 out, and a coroner's inquest held upon the spot." 



This is direct and interesting evidence, as we have not only the 

 description of an eye-witness, but the length of the crocodile is 

 given, 17| feet. We thus have an undeniable fact that a creature 

 of that length can actually swallow an ordinary human being, if 

 it chooses. Crocodiles have been frequently killed in Ceylon that 

 have measured 22 feet, and there can be little doubt that this 

 length is occasionally exceeded. I have seen the teeth sufficiently 

 large to form boxes for carrying percussion-caps, before the days of 

 breechloaders. The power of the jaws is terrific, and I have had 

 the metal of a large hook, the thickness of ordinary telegraph wire, 

 completely bent together, the barbed point being pressed tightly 

 against the shank, and rendered useless ; this compression was 

 caused by the snap of the jaws when seizing a live duck which I 

 had used as a bait, the hook being fastened beneath one wing. 

 The crocodile took the bait, but I made a mistake in immediately 

 striking and hauling upon the line. After a rush of a few yards, 

 the monster sulked among the aquatic reeds at the bottom of the 



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