338 THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



feet. When bursting its shell it is scarce nine inches long ; 

 after a year it attains the double, sometimes the triple length, 

 and then grows slower. On comparing the full-grown with tlie 

 new-born crocodile, one can hardly conceive how this neat 

 little creature can ever expand to such a size. 



In spite of its unwieldy appearance, the crocodile is by no 

 means awkward in its movements. The web uniting the four 

 toes of its hind feet, and its long oar-like tail, enable it to catch 

 fish without difficulty, but also on land it is far from being 

 slow. According to Brehm, an excellent observer, it moves in 

 every direction with the greatest ease, and is able to turn in a 

 circle, the diameter of which is about equal to its length' — so 

 that running backwards and forwards, so warmly recommended 

 by the inventors of fables, as the best means to escape the 

 reptile, would hardly be of use. Fortunately, the crocodile on 

 land never gives occasion to show the fallacy of this method, as 

 it invariably runs away at the approach of man. During his 

 journeys in Fassokl, Dr. Penney disturbed a crocodile which 

 had hidden itself in a heap of dried leaves. The animal fled at 

 the approach of the riders, and ran bellowing in a direct line to 

 the river, which was several miles distant. It was impossible 

 to come up to it with the swiftest dromedaries. 



The chief food of the gigantic reptile consists of fishes, but 

 nothing living, which it can reach and master, comes amiss 

 to its voracity. Land animals it generally surprises while 

 drinking. Slowly it approaches, swimming under the surface 

 of the water; then suddenly darts its head forward, seizes its 

 prey, di^figs it into the water, and leisurely devours it, though as 

 some believe not before the carcass is in a certain state of 

 putrefaction. Its human victims are generally those whom it 

 seizes while wading into the river to fetch water. The dogs in 

 the neighbourhood of the Nile hate and fear the crocodile. 

 While a dog born in the interior of the country will approach 

 the stream without any signs of shyness, the others are 

 extremely cautious, drink quickly, having all the time an 

 attentive eye upon the water. Their hatred shows itself in 

 their rage at sight of a great lizard. 



But the natives also testify on every occasion their but too 

 well-founded fear of the harnessed monster, for in all Sudan 

 tliere is not a village on the banks of the two rivers which has 



