HABITS. 247 



the full liberty of movement ; but it lias been more 

 than once shown that, at least in certain seasons 

 and in certain countries, crocodiles (although less 

 active on the land than in the water) are still capa- 

 ble of moving very quickly on level ground, but in 

 a straight line only, for the short ribs of the neck 

 touching each other prevent these animals from 

 turning easily. Hence there is one chance of safety 

 for those whom they pursue. This knowledge was 

 made use of by an Englishman, who, having at his 

 heels a monstrous crocodile, which had sprung from 

 the lake of Nicaragua, was nearly caught, when the 

 Spaniards who were with him shouted to him to 

 quit the direct path and to run in zigzag. He fol- 

 lowed this counsel, and found it valuable. 



It rarely happens, according to Livingstone, that 

 the crocodile comes out of the water to seek food. 

 On one occasion, nevertheless, on the banks of the 

 Zouga, he met with one which, although still small 

 (about three feet long), made a dash at his feet, and 

 compelled him to fly in another direction ; but the 

 traveller adds, "this is unusual, for I never heard 

 of a similar instance." 



These examples, however, are not rare elsewhere. 



. The Count de Forbin, in his " Voyage a Siam," reports 



that the crocodiles sometimes come close up to the 



houses at Bancok. La Condamine tells us that 



