THE CROCODILE. 353. 



and the colour is ash, whilst the alligator is black. It 

 is sometimes known to measure thirty feet from the tip 

 of the nose to the end of the tail ; though the one from 

 which I shall give my description was not quite nine- 

 teen. The tail measured five feet and a half; and the 

 head and neck upwards of two : it was four feet nine 

 inches in circumference ; and the fore-legs had the ap- 

 pearance of the hands and arms of a man ; but two of 

 the five fingers were entirely without nails : the head 

 was long, the skull uneven, and one part of it was proof 

 against a musket-ball ■. The jaws seemed to shut one 

 within the other ; and in the upper one was placed 

 twenty-seven cutting-teeth ; but, in the under one, 

 only fifteen : the mouth was fifteen inches in length, 

 and the body of a man could pass easily between ; and 

 it was covered with scales from the shoulders to the 

 tail. 



The strength of the crocodile surpasses credibilit} r , 

 for it can easily overturn a canoe with one stroke of its 

 taiL Except when pressed by hunger, it seldom leaves 

 it* favourite element, or with a view of depositing its 

 eggs. Its usual method is to float upon the surface of 

 the water, and to seize whatever animal comes within 

 its reach. If disappointed of fishy prey, it conceals it- 

 self amongst the sedges, and waits the approach of those 

 animals that may be attracted thither by the parching 

 influence of the clime ; and neither the dog, the bull, 

 or the tiger, have any chance of escaping from its de- 

 structive jaws* The human race likewise frequently 

 fall victims to its rapacity ; yet the negroes will attack 

 diem merely with a knife* Their usual method of do 

 ing this is to enter the water with the left arm bound 

 up tight with a cow's hide ; which, the moment the 

 crocodile extends his jaws to seize him, he thrusts with 



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