242 CROCODILES AND CAYMANS. 



about in the river were covered with crocodiles. If 

 the boats approached them, they would move into the 

 water slowly, and allowing sufficient time to observe 

 them leisurely. At length," he writes, "when we 

 reached "Upper Nubia, the Nile was sprinkled with 

 small islands covered with pelicans ; on some we per- 

 ceived monstrous crocodiles asleep, and which awoke 

 at our approach. Often, in the midst of the river, we 

 saw the heads of these formidable amphibia, which 

 would disappear under the waves after inhaling a little 

 air." 



We have said enough to prove to our readers, and 

 those hunters whose courage is but ill satisfied with 

 the perilless exploits accomplished in the suburbs of 

 our cities, that for many a year to come game will not 

 be wanting for those who will undertake the enterprise 

 of purging the earth of those monsters which defile 

 and oppress it. 



III. HABITS. 



CROCODILES live on land and in the water, with a 

 decided preference for the latter. They swim with 

 extreme rapidity, aided by their powerful compressed 

 tail. Nevertheless, all are not equally aquatic. The 

 caymans are less so than the others. The gavials 



