318 THE STORY OF THE CROCODILE. 



reach the brain, the crocodile should be struck immediately behind the aper- 

 ture of the ear. Although it is commonly supposed that the bony armor 

 of these reptiles is bullet-proof, this is quite erroneous; if the plates are 

 struck obliquely, the bullet will, however, frequently ricochet. 



A remarkable instance of boldness and ferocity displayed by a crocodile 

 of this species was witnessed by me during a journey to Mashonaland. On 

 arriving one evening at the banks of the narrow but rocky Tokwi River, a 

 man named Williams rode in with the intention of crossing. During the 

 passage his horse was carried by the stream a few yards below the landing- 

 place, and just as he reached the opposite bank he was seized by the leg by 

 a crocodile, which dragged him from his horse into the stream. There the 

 reptile let go its hold, upon which the man managed to crawl on to a small 

 island. Immediately his companion rode in to his assistance, upon which 

 another very large crocodile mounted up between him and his horse's neck, 

 and then slipped back, making a dreadful wound on his side and in the 

 horse's neck with its claws as it did so. The river seemed, indeed, to be 

 absolutely swarming with crocodiles; and it was with the greatest difficulty 

 that the unfortunate man, Williams, who ultimately died of his wounds, was 

 brought to bank. 



The Ganges crocodile is one of the largest, if not the very largest, of 

 its order, sometimes reaching a length of 35 feet. As its popular name 

 imports, it is a native of India, and swarms in many of the Indian rivers, the 

 Ganges being greatly infested with its presence. It is a striking animal, the 

 extraordinary length of its muzzle giving it a most singular and rather gro- 

 tesque aspect. 



This prolongation of the head varies considerably according to the age 

 and sex of the individual. In the young, just hatched from the egg, the 

 head is short and blunt, and only attains its full development when the 

 creature has reached adult age. The males can be distinguished from the 

 other sex by the shape of the muzzle, which is much smaller at the extremity. 

 There are many teeth, the full complement being about one hundred and 

 twenty. They are similar in appearance, and about equal in length. 



The following account of the pursuit of one of these monsters which had 

 recently carried off a boy is abridged from a native newspaper. The hunter, 

 having been summoned, moored his canoe hard by the place where the 

 tragedy had taken place, it being well known that a crocodile which has 

 been successful in securing a victim will generally remain for some days about 

 the spot. Soon the crocodile was descried floating on the water, whereupon 



