154 OVIPAROUS QUADRUPEDS, 



the water J where the whole brood is fcattered into different parts. By 

 far the greateft number are deftroyed, not only by voracious fiflies, but 

 by old crocodiles preffed with hunger ; the reft find fafety in their agility 

 or minutenefs. 



The eggs of this animal are eagerly fought by every beaft and bird of 

 prey J including monkies, and feveral kinds of water-birds. The ich- 

 neumon was deified by the ancients for itsfucaefs in deftroying thefe eggs. 

 At prefent the vulture, called Gallinazo, is their moft prevailing enemy. 

 Hiding in the thick branches of the trees, that (hade the banks of the 

 river, they watch the female in filence, and permit her to lay ail her eggs 

 without interruption, When fhe has retired, flocking all together oq 

 the hidden treafure, they tear up the eggs, and devour them in much 

 lefs time than they were depofited. 



Thofe between the tropics are lively the whole year; thofe diftant 

 from them are more or lefs torpid in winter. The crocodile lives pro- 

 bably much above an hundred years, as it does not attain its full growth 

 under thirty. 



The Black Crocodile is found in the river of Senegal; its fhoutis longer 

 than the former ; its manners and ferocity yet more favage. 



The crocodile of the Ganges refembles the firft in colour; its jaws 

 are very long and narrow, its teeth more numerous; its manners much 

 the fame. 



THE W H I P-T AIL 



IS fo named, not from the refemblance of its tail to a whip in form, 

 but in motion; vibrating very rapidly. This lizard inhabits the hot 

 flimates in America, particularly Peru : is often feveral feet in length ; 

 his tail is fomewhat dentelated on the fides, is flatted; its feet membraned, 

 ^ike the crocodile, but he has five toes to each foot. One of the ifland 

 pf Ceylon drives off invaders, by beating them violently with his tail, 

 y'hich he Ihakes like a whip. 



THE 



